By Benard Ogembo [ogembobenard@gmail.com]
World leaders are finally on the verge of tackling our planet’s most pressing environmental problem of our time, reduction on plastic products manufacturing. Kenya, which has invested heavily in both policies and law enforcement to win the fight against plastic pollution, is hoping for a fair conclusion of the talks and signing of a final treaty process as this will inform its next course of action to attain its national targets to end plastic pollution.
Kenya has for long struggled with plastic waste, which dots its Indian Ocean coast and often abounds in its lakes. Delegates meeting in Busan City, South Korea, November last year agreed that a common approach is needed, and a future Plastics Treaty must address interlinkages and enhance synergies across all these processes to tackle the so-called triple planetary crisis, enhance circular economy solutions and ultimately end plastic pollution.
The current state of circularity in Kenya is mixed. Although the government has introduced policies and regulations to support circularity, there are still significant challenges to adopting circularity in Kenya. These include limited waste collection and recycling infrastructure, inadequate funding, and a lack of awareness and education on the benefits of circularity at a household level.
The lack of finance for circular plastics solutions is one of the main barriers to solving the plastics pollution crisis. Investments in virgin plastics production still exceeds that of recycled plastics. A finance mechanism is expected to be included in the treaty but, while this mechanism will provide some urgently needed support for developing countries to tackle mismanaged waste and open burning, policy makers recommends that there must be a significant increase in private financing for higher-value circular plastics opportunities in the value chain.
However, questions have also been raised whether a circular economy is desirable, particularly because little is known about the health risks posed by plastics that have been recycled several times. According to waste experts, “As we drive greater plastic circularity, we need to ensure we are not increasing the risk to human or to ecosystem health.”
“Central to the debate must be ensuring our transition to a more circular economy is just and inclusive for all waste workers and communities. Otherwise, we risk replacing one problem with another,” says Dorothy Atieno, Programs Manager, Centre for Environmental Justice and Development (CEJAD).
Speaking at one of the Circular Economy Conference events in Nairobi, Dr Ayub Macharia, Director Compliance National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) said that Kenya as a country has expanded the circular economy value chain and has tasked the Producer Responsibility organizations to look into the plight of waste pickers.
According to Dr Macharia, “As much as much as a circular economy is a new concept in Kenya, the government, through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) and of Trade and Industrialisation and multilateral agencies has developed a corresponding legal and policy framework that ensures a smooth transition from a linear economy.”
Waste management is a critical issue that affects the environment and human health worldwide. In Kenya, however, the circular economy which is applied to various types of waste, including plastic, food, and electronic waste is revolutionising waste management by reducing waste and maximising the use of resources.
The country generates over 22,000 tons of plastic waste every month, with only 9% of this waste being recycled. This waste ends up in landfills, waterways, and the ocean, leading to environmental pollution and health hazards. Circular economy initiatives in Kenya are encouraging the recycling of plastic waste and the production of new products from recycled plastic, which can create a new revenue stream for the economy.
Food waste emerges as one of the most significant problems in Kenya, with over 10 million tons going to waste yearly, contributing to environmental pollution and food insecurity. Food waste experts say circular economy solutions can reduce food waste by encouraging the use of food waste as animal feed or for biogas production. These solutions help create new income opportunities for local communities and support sustainable food systems.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, is another significant problem in Kenya, with over 17,000 tons generated yearly. Most of this waste ends up in landfills, where it can release hazardous chemicals into the environment.
Plastic waste and pollution have captured the attention of businesses, governments, academia, non-governmental organizations, the informal waste sector and citizens in the country. A 2020 published data by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows that only 8% of plastic is recycled, with the remainder being landfilled or incinerated – or in the worst-case scenario, ending up in the environment.
Some private partner corporations are starting to provide solutions to the waste crisis Safaricom, one of the leading telecommunications companies in Kenya, partnered with WeeCenter, a Nairobi-based e-waste management company, to manage e-waste generated by Safaricom’s operations. This partnership is an example of how the private sector can contribute to sustainable waste management and reduce environmental pollution.
According to the International Labour Organisation, a circular economy could benefit the environment while boosting competitiveness and resilience. Between 7-8 million jobs net growth in jobs globally due to a circular economy by 2030.
The European Commission predicts a 2.7 percent increase in employment in Africa from the transition to a circular economy.
Gisore Nyabuti, Secretary General, Kenya National WastePickers Welfare Association (KENWWA) feels the final treaty agreement should also focus on plastics that have an active buyback system and the need to compel developing countries to invest in the right technology to facilitate plastic wastes recycling.
Nearly 58% of all the plastic waste that’s collected and recovered globally are managed by informal waste workers and the UN Environment Programme has repeatedly emphasized that the world cannot transform its relationship with plastic without them.
Ironically, for many workers though, the short-term threat of job loss far outweighs the longer-term fear of contracting a terminal disease. This could explain why despite many workers suffering from chronic respiratory ailments, they continue working within dumpsites seeking valuables.
However, doubts abound about the effective implementation of the just transition with the waste pickers organisations voicing their concerns on what they term as non-inclusivity in implementing the process.
Richard Kainika, Secretary General at the Association of Waste Recyclers, warns that the elephant in the room is making sure the available incentives are distributed sustainably, in particular to the waste pickers.
“The recycling sector can’t afford to ignore its social challenges. The enormity of the world’s waste problem is entwined with rising global inequality. Societies push waste issues out-of-sight, to economically vulnerable places where people’s rights are not prioritised. Waste workers then face social stigmatisation because their jobs are not deemed worthy of dignity and respect,” Added James Wakibia, Environmental Human rights Activist.
Wakibia noted that waste workers provide an essential service that will play a critical role in building a sustainable, circular economy, and with this understanding, the best way forward is to adopt a grassroots approach that centres around informal waste workers.
“We need to listen to their experiences and opinions to co-create plans of action for the circular economy to be a reality,” he concluded.
In 2021, through the Sustainable Waste Management Policy and the Sustainable Waste Management Act, the country’s policy has shifted from the linear model to the circular model. The Ministry of Environment in Kenya is revising legislation to align with extended producer responsibility regulations for plastic and other waste. It is also working to harmonise regulations with other stakeholders to ensure no conflict or duplication, and the regulations will come into force soon.
