Date of Webinar: 28th August 2025
Organized By: TTNM in Partnership with EAWMC
Target Audience: Government officials
Researchers
International organizations
Private sector
Speakers:
1. Mr. Brian Kalekye – Consultant Partnerships and Regional Development, TTNM
2. Ms. Mpendulo Ginindza – Africa Regional Chapter Advisory Board Chair, ISWA
3. Mr. Simon Kiarie – Ag. Director of Productive Sectors, EAC
4. Mr. Adrian Njau – Ag. Executive Director, EABC
5. Ms. Carlotta Dal Lago – Head of Business Development, Marketing and Communications, ALN Kenya
6. Mr. Dan Kiguli – Senior Environment Inspector, NEMA, Uganda
7. Mr. Boniphace Kyaruzi – NEMC, Tanzania
8. Dr. John Mumbo – Acting Deputy Director, Pollution Control, NEMA, Kenya
Moderator: Ms. Jane Achieng – Head of ESG Advisory and Technology Solutions, TTNM
1. Introduction
The inaugural session of the Future of Waste Webinar Series was convened on August 28, 2025, under the theme “Advancing Regional Collaboration on Waste Management in East Africa.” Hosted by TakaTaka ni Mali (TTNM) in partnership with East African Waste Management Coalition (EAWMC), the webinar aimed to catalyze dialogue and action around regional waste governance, policy harmonization, and circular economy initiatives across East African countries.
This report summarizes the key discussions and insights from the Webinar, which highlighted critical areas such as regional waste legislation, scaling Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, fostering cross-border collaboration, and leveraging digital tools for effective governance. The primary objective of this initiative is to transform waste management challenges into opportunities for sustainable economic growth and green industrialization across the East African Community (EAC).
Moderated by Jane Achieng, Head of ESG Advisory at TTNM, the session brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, legal experts, environmental authorities, and regional organizations to explore collaborative approaches to sustainable waste management and sharing their expertise and perspectives on waste management in East Africa:.
2. Objectives of the Webinar
- Enhance shared understanding of the regional waste policy landscape and policy trends like the SUP Bill.
- Identify practical pathways for harmonizing waste management policies and regulations.
- Rolling out the East African Waste Management Coalition, a multi-stakeholder platform for coordinated regional action.
- Translate discussions into actionable strategies for turning waste into opportunity.
3. Key Highlights and Speaker Contributions
Opening Remarks – Brian Kalekye, TTNM
- Introduced the East African Waste Management Coalition(EAWMC), a multi-stakeholder platform hosted by TTNM with support from ALN Kenya.
- Emphasized the urgency of regional collaboration due to rising waste volumes, low collection rates, and unsafe disposal practices.
- Outlined the coalition’s guiding principles: collaboration, inclusivity, transparency, innovation, and accountability.
- Called for harmonized policies, shared standards, and cross-border cooperation.
International Perspective – Mpendulo Ginindza, ISWA Africa Chapter
- Presented the work of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) as the global network committed to creating a cleaner planet, and its African chapter.
- Highlighted ISWA’s African chapter, which actively engages in various working groups and capacity-building programs to advance sustainable waste management practices.
- Shared key themes for COP30 advocacy: circular and climate-resilient waste systems, organic waste prioritization, and climate finance mobilization.
- Encouraged African regions to formalize waste management and integrate cross-sectoral expertise.
Regional Policy Overview – Simon Kiarie, East African Community (EAC)
- Provided insights into EAC’s mandate for environmental policy harmonization under Articles 111–113 of the EAC Treaty.
- Shared statistics on urbanization, waste generation, and collection coverage across the region.
- Proposed anchoring waste management and Environmental Policy in the upcoming EAC 7th Development Strategy.
- Advocated for a standalone regional waste management strategy to guide harmonization and implementation.
Private Sector Perspective – Adrian Njau, East African Business Council (EABC)
- Highlighted the economic potential of waste management, with Africa’s market projected to reach USD 59.3 billion by 2030.
- Emphasized the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), green packaging, and regional policy alignment.
- Called for Private Sector led formalization of the informal waste sector and support for green entrepreneurs.
- Advocated for harmonized standards to enable cross-border circular economy initiatives.
Legal Framework – Carlotta Dal Lago, Africa Legal Network (ALN)
- Presented the East Africa Single-Use Plastic Bill, developed by ALN-Kenya and Flipflopi Project. Key features of the bill include prohibitions on the manufacture and sale of certain plastics, promotion of recycling initiatives, and the provision of incentives for sustainable practices.
- Explained the bill’s role in aligning national legislation under a unified regional framework.
- Emphasized the bill’s potential to drive green industrialization, investment, and trade coherence.
- Advocated for legal certainty and harmonized enforcement to support circular manufacturing.
4. Perspectives from Partner States
Uganda – Dan Kiguli, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
- Shared Uganda’s progress on EPR for electronic waste and development of an organic waste strategy.
- Highlighted challenges in enforcement, data collection, and open burning.
- Called for robust data systems, digital innovation, and stakeholder engagement.
Tanzania – Boniphace Kyaruzi, National Environmental Management Council (NEMC)
- Discussed Tanzania’s linear waste management model and emerging trends in composting and recycling.
- Shared success stories in plastic waste reduction and innovations in glass recycling.
- Emphasized the need for formalization, digital traceability, and financial support.
Kenya – Dr. John Mumbo, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
- Presented Kenya’s legal instruments including the Sustainable Waste Management Act and EPR regulations.
- Highlighted initiatives in waste-to-energy, informal sector integration, and color-coded waste bins.
- Addressed challenges in enforcement, data accuracy, and cross-border plastic inflows.
5. Technology and Innovation – Evance Abok, TTNM
Introduced Ecomali, a digital solution by TakaTaka Ni Mali that provides an integrated waste regeneration ecosystem. The platform leverages technology to track waste movement, its conversion, and the resulting environmental impact.
Presented Ecoloop, an ESG Data Management and Reporting platform by TTNM, that enables companies to:
- Unlock brand value across the value chain
- Ensure compliance with environmental and industry regulations
- Access customizable data management and reporting solutions
- Monitor and evaluate environmental impact
- Generate ESG insights that attract impact investment
He emphasized the critical role of data-driven decision-making and digital solutions in driving compliance, sustainability, and investment opportunities
6. Interactive Poll Results
Participants identified:
- High compliance costs and limited technical knowledge as the biggest barriers for SMEs in meeting waste management compliance, see below poll summary:
- Capacity building and technical training as the most needed support for improving compliance readiness, see below poll summary:
7. Conclusion and Next Steps
The webinar successfully rolled out a membership campaign for the East African Waste Management Coalition (EAWMC), laying the foundation for sustained regional dialogue and action. Key takeaways include:
- The need for harmonized policies and standards.
- The importance of data, digital innovation, and financing.
- The role of legal frameworks and private sector engagement.
Participants were invited to join the coalition via a registration form shared during the session. Future webinars will delve deeper into sector-specific themes and country-level strategies.