Kenya’s environment watchdog issues 21-day ultimatum to counties on waste segregation

KENYA – The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a 21-day directive to all 47 County Governments to reorganize dumpsites and enforce waste segregation at the source, in line with Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act (SWMA).

In a notice dated September 19, NEMA emphasized that waste generators are legally required to separate waste before disposal, while transporters are mandated to carry only segregated waste. The authority warned that failure to comply will attract enforcement measures.

“County Governments are REQUIRED and DIRECTED to within the next 21 days accelerate the transition towards a circular economy in waste management by facilitating segregation of waste at source and in transit by reorganizing dumpsites accordingly,” NEMA stated.

Under the new guidelines, households and businesses must use color-coded bins: green for organic waste, blue for recyclables, and black for general waste.

NEMA further instructed waste service providers to ensure that segregated waste is not mixed during collection and transportation.

Organic waste will be channeled to material recovery facilities for composting and other forms of resource recovery.

The directive builds on NEMA’s earlier announcement of July 8, when the agency declared that Kenyans would henceforth be required to separate household waste into organic and non-organic categories.

The move is expected to significantly boost recycling rates and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.

NEMA also reiterated the government’s ban on plastic garbage bags, first enacted in 2017 through Gazette Notices 2334 and 2356, which outlawed the manufacture, importation, and use of plastic carrier bags and bin liners. Instead, collectors and households must use biodegradable bags.

The Sustainable Waste Management Act, enacted in 2022, is a cornerstone of Kenya’s transition to a circular economy, treating waste as a resource rather than a disposal burden.

By mandating segregation, the Act aims to create new opportunities in recycling, energy recovery, and composting, while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from dumpsites.

Experts say enforcement at the county level will be critical. Counties are responsible for solid waste management under the Constitution, but challenges such as limited funding, weak infrastructure, and low public awareness have slowed progress.

If fully implemented, NEMA’s directive could transform Kenya’s waste sector, creating green jobs, reducing environmental hazards, and moving the country closer to its Vision 2030 sustainability goals.

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