Report reveals majority of Kenyans burn waste, polluting air with harmful ‘forever chemicals’

KENYA – Over half of Kenyan households burn their waste, a practice that releases harmful toxins into the air, according to a recent global report by a leading safety charity.

The World Risk Poll, conducted in collaboration with waste management experts, including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), highlights the widespread use of open burning as a method of waste disposal despite its environmental and health risks.

The report, titled ‘A World of Waste: Risks and Opportunities in Household Waste Management’, reveals that 54% of Kenyan families dispose of their waste through open burning.

This practice remains illegal in parts of the country, such as Nairobi, where offenders face fines of up to KES 500,000 (US$3,875.97) or a six-month jail term.

However, the report suggests that burning waste remains a common practice due to the lack of viable alternatives.

The global survey conducted by Gallup interviewed 147,000 people across 142 countries and found that open burning is the third most common method of waste disposal worldwide, with 14% of households using this method.

The report emphasizes the urgent need for improved waste disposal infrastructure in Kenya, where more than half the population relies on it.

Experts warn that open waste burning releases black carbon, a significant contributor to global warming, and hazardous ‘forever chemicals’—synthetic substances that persist indefinitely in the environment.

Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which collaborated on the report, stated, “While many countries benefit from safe and sustainable waste management, in Kenya and other nations, the lack of proper infrastructure leads to harmful waste disposal practices.”

Professor Desta Mebratu, leader of Engineering X’s Africa Roadmap for Transformative Action on Waste, echoed these concerns, explaining that for many communities, open burning is not a choice but a necessity due to inadequate government-provided infrastructure.

Mebratu called on governments to use the report’s findings to guide the development of safe and effective waste disposal systems.

The UNEP report underscores the dangers of uncontrolled burning, noting that even non-hazardous waste can release persistent organic pollutants that threaten human health and the environment.

While industrial operations produce most conventional hazardous waste, significant amounts are generated in non-industrial sectors, including waste oils, batteries, and sludge from wastewater treatment plants.

Currently, the two primary methods for managing non-recyclable waste are landfill disposal and incineration.

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