Kenyans face penalties for failing to sort waste under new law

KENYA – Kenyans who fail to comply with new waste sorting regulations could face hefty fines or jail time, as the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022, officially takes full effect.

The law mandates all households and businesses to sort their waste into separate streams—non-compliance could result in penalties of up to KES20,000 or a six-month jail term.

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director General Mamo Mamo urged citizens to take responsibility for their environmental impact, stating, “It is our responsibility to protect and conserve our environment for our survival. This starts with you at the household level when you segregate waste.”

Under the new regulations, non-hazardous waste must be divided into organic and non-organic categories, a move expected to ease recycling efforts, reduce landfill volumes, and promote resource recovery.

The government aims to incinerate 5% of waste, recycle 30%, convert 60% into compost or manure, and send only 5% to landfills.

Counties ordered to implement local regulations

The law compels county governments to enact supporting waste management policies within two years.

These local regulations must be developed in collaboration with the national government, the public, and relevant stakeholders.

Under the Sustainable Waste Management Act, counties across Kenya will be required to play a central role in implementing localized waste management systems. One of their key responsibilities is the establishment of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).

These facilities will serve as designated centers where waste is sorted, processed, and prepared for recycling or further treatment, ensuring that valuable materials are recovered instead of being dumped in landfills.

In addition to building infrastructure, counties must also set clear investment guidelines aimed at promoting sustainable waste practices.

These guidelines will outline how public and private sector investments should be directed towards improving waste collection, treatment, recycling, and final disposal.

By doing so, county governments are expected to foster innovation and efficiency in the sector while creating employment opportunities.

Furthermore, counties must ensure that all waste handlers are licensed by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

This requirement will help formalize the waste sector, improve accountability, and uphold standards in collection, transportation, and disposal.

Licensing also ensures that only qualified and compliant service providers operate within the waste management chain, thereby protecting public health and the environment.

Color-coded bins and strict licensing

All waste generators, including households and businesses, must follow segregation protocols and use color-coded bins for disposal.

Waste collectors and transporters must be licensed by NEMA, and all containers must be properly labeled to indicate waste categories.

Kenya has rolled out a national color-coding system for waste segregation, aimed at simplifying and improving the country’s waste management processes.

This initiative is a core part of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022, which requires all waste generators to properly sort their waste before disposal.

Under the new system, green bins are designated for organic or wet waste, including items such as food scraps, vegetable peelings, and garden trimmings.

These materials can be composted and turned into manure, supporting the law’s goal of converting 60% of waste into organic fertilizer.

Blue bins are reserved for recyclable dry waste, such as glass, paper, certain plastics, and metals. Sorting these materials at the source helps increase recycling rates and supports a growing circular economy in Kenya.

Finally, black bins are intended for general waste that does not fit into the organic or recyclable categories.

This includes mixed materials or contaminated items that cannot be processed further and are destined for final disposal.

This color-coded system is designed to make it easier for both individuals and waste handlers to identify and manage different types of waste.

By encouraging proper sorting at the household and business level, the government hopes to significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and promote more sustainable waste practices nationwide.

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