KENYA – Turkana country in collaboration with Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Mr. Green has launched a plastic waste recycling project in Kakuma.
The recycling process begins with the collection of plastic waste from towns and villages within the community. This collected waste is then transported to the recycling site.
Once at the site, the waste is categorized based on its type of plastic and subsequently weighed before undergoing the crushing process.
In Turkana, the crushed material is transported to Nairobi for further processing into various pellets, eventually culminating in the creation of finished products such as water bottles, plastic chairs, and containers for water and cooking oil, among other items.
This initiative strives not only to ensure a cleaner environment but also to generate employment opportunities, particularly for the women and youth of the area.
Simon Nzioki, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Country Director, highlights that the project aims to address climate change and ecological challenges in the county.
The endeavor nhas also garnered support from UNHCR, showcasing a collective commitment to environmental conservation in the sub-county.
Elizabeth Loote, the county executive committee member for environment and climate change, emphasized the employment of 60 individuals, primarily women, as a significant achievement of the project. She underlined the project’s alignment with the governor’s vision of creating job opportunities for women and youth.
Loote further emphasized the project’s pivotal role in combating the long-standing issue of waste pollution in the county. She expressed hope that the project would extend beyond the mere crushing of plastic waste and, with additional partners, complete the entire value chain.
Nzioki underscored the project’s significance in addressing climate change, highlighting its six-month pilot phase and its potential impact on the community.
Keiran Smith, CEO of Mr. Green Africa, emphasized the organization’s commitment to fair, transparent, and inclusive practices in purchasing plastics. This approach, he believes, fosters a mutually beneficial scenario where fairness in transactions is upheld.
The initiative also focuses on value addition to products while benefiting the community. Smith expressed confidence in the project’s success, citing the dedication and passion evident among the project team members.
Beneficiaries like Mary Paul, a waste collector, acknowledged the employment opportunities created by the project. She highlighted the potential for increased profits if the project promptly purchases and pays for waste plastics.
John Erupe, a waste aggregator at the site, shared that the project had provided him with a livelihood, offering a source of income that was previously unavailable.
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