Embrace use of recycled goods – firms
By Oliver Musembi, September 28, 2023National and county governments have been challenged to promote use of products made from recycled materials to help conserve the environment
Leading waste recycling organisations and players expressed concerns that government agencies and departments are still importing items that are being produced locally through recycled materials.
Kimani Rugendo, the proprietor of Thika-based Ramani Convertors and Recyclers Ltd said it is unfortunate that national and county governments import pencils and other items including ceiling boards yet the same are manufactured locally using recycled materials.
“The main challenge is we don’t promote our local industries and the question is, do we still have to import these products made from recycled waste? Because if we don’t stop importing these products, the sector will die,” he pointed out.
He said efforts by conservationists and relevant organisations may be in vain should those in the recycling industry fail to get the requisite support from government which is the biggest consumer of these products.
Rugendo spoke during the signing of a partnership between Tetrapak East Africa and Packaging Producer Responsibility Organisation (PakPRO) for the recovery of used beverage cartons.
The project aims to recover at least 1,500 metric tonnes of beverage cartons in the country for recycling purposes, which accounts for 30 percent of the waste generated countrywide, according to the partners. The partnership was signed by PakPRO Chief Executive Joyce Waweru and Rugendo.
Andrew Kimani, the Director Kiambu County Environment Department said the pickers of waste from dumpsites and other areas need to be supported through prompt payment for their services because their families depend on these earnings.
“Kang’oki dumpsite in Thika, being the only waste disposal facility in the county, has at least 680 waste collectors working daily and making a living out of the recyclables,” Kimani stated.
Kiambu Waste Management Association (Kiwama)chairman Steve Mwangi said Kiambu county whose population is the second highest in the country after Nairobi produces at least 1.2 million kilogrammes of waste annually.
“In Kiambu, we have more than 500 garbage collectors whom we refer to as ‘waste engineers’ who are doing a good job in supplementing waste management efforts,” said Mwangi.
Most of this waste, Mwangi added, comes from 10 densely populated sub counties out of a total of 12. He added that this poses a huge challenge in waste management.