KENYA – A consortium of three community-based organizations (CBOs) is partnering to recycle plastic waste in the informal settlement of Bangladesh in Mombasa.
Pwani Youth Network (PYN) joined Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and Women Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy (WRAP) in the cleanup exercise.
Speaking during a community clean-up exercise and a public awareness campaign in Bangladesh, PYN Chief Executive Alfred Sigo said they aim to engage and educate the community on plastic waste management in order to encourage community action and influence consumer choices.
Sigo, the founder of PYN, says that the partnership aims to accelerate the transformation of plastic waste, which would otherwise be discarded in the natural environment, into a valuable commodity. The goal is to promote a circular plastic economy.
The synergy of the environmental groups, he says, will not only improve the livelihoods of the workers in the plastic recycling sector but also have a positive impact on the environment.
Sigo further stated that the plastic recycling value chain will help address environmental pollution and, simultaneously, create employment opportunities for the community.
John Ooko, the Project Coordinator at Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), has urged the County Government of Mombasa to enhance waste management practices and enforce compliance with the solid waste management strategy. This will help to effectively tackle the growing garbage problem that is negatively impacting the coastal tourist resort city.
He further stated that the county by-laws on waste segregation from the source will ensure a clean, healthy, and green environment within the county. Additionally, it will improve livelihoods for both young women and men by involving them in the collection, sorting, and processing of waste within the county.
On her part, Susan Achieng of Women Reducing Adolescence Pregnancy (WRAP) said that her organization deals with collecting discarded garbage, which the group later sells to Pwani Youth Network.
She says that the garbage recycling project has not only provided employment opportunities for the youth living in the informal settlement, but has also created an educational platform to raise awareness about maintaining a clean environment for a more sustainable and healthier planet.
Murang’a County steps up efforts to collect plastic waste
In another development, the County Government of Murang’a has acquired two trucks worth Sh46 million and 21 refuse collection bins. This acquisition aims to boost refuse collection in major local towns.
Commissioning the trucks, Deputy Governor Stephen Munania stated that the new trucks would ensure timely garbage collection, allowing residents to live in a clean environment.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water and Environment, Mary Magochi, announced that 21 refuse collection bins will be strategically placed in designated areas for residents to properly dispose of garbage.
The bins, she noted, will be placed in Murang’a town, Kenol, and Kangari, as well as other towns, to assist in garbage collection.
“We kindly ask residents in towns with bins to utilize them for proper garbage disposal. The trucks will be collecting garbage on specific days of the week,” she added.
The initiative aims to address the growing problem of plastic pollution in the county. Plastic waste has become a significant environmental concern because it takes hundreds of years to decompose and can cause harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
By investing in these trucks and refuse collection bins, the County Government of Murang’a aims to promote active participation of residents in plastic waste management.
The trucks will be able to collect larger quantities of plastic waste, while the bins will provide convenient and accessible disposal points.
The efforts to enhance plastic collection in Murang’a County are part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance waste management and foster environmental sustainability.
The county government is committed to creating a clean and healthy environment for its residents, and this initiative is a step towards achieving that goal.
