Mombasa: The Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation (KEPRO) and the County Government of Mombasa have launched a countywide waste segregation initiative targeting 1,000 households to promote sustainable waste management, enhance recycling, and create green employment opportunities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the programme builds on ongoing efforts by the county government to address the growing waste challenge in the coastal city. Last year, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir rolled out a pilot waste management programme that engaged youth-led Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and private garbage collectors to improve efficiency, expand coverage, and enhance cleanliness across the city.
Mombasa generates more than 1,200 tonnes of solid waste daily. However, only about 52 per cent of this waste is collected, leaving nearly half uncollected, posing serious environmental and public health risks.
To entrench a culture of responsible waste management, KEPRO, in partnership with the County Department of Environment, conducted a week-long consumer sensitisation campaign targeting manufacturers, waste pickers, households, and residents on post-consumer waste management practices. The campaign sought to raise awareness on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations and encourage stakeholders across the waste value chain to adopt the principles of a circular economy.
The EPR Regulations, gazetted in November 2024, extend the responsibility of producers to the entire lifecycle of their products and packaging. They provide a framework for establishing and operating mandatory EPR schemes while operationalising the polluter-pays principle.
KEPRO Board Director Elidy Wangeci underscored the need to transition from the traditional linear waste management model-where products are discarded after use-to a circular economy approach that prioritises waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. She noted that one of the greatest barriers to achieving a circular economy is poor waste handling at the household level, largely driven by the failure to segregate waste at source.
According to Wangeci, many residents still perceive waste management as the responsibility of waste collectors, making it difficult to recover recyclable materials efficiently and sustainably. ‘We are looking at that so that we actually tell the people that waste is your responsibility. And there are several opportunities in waste management,’ said Wangeci. She added: ‘There’s actually a famous saying that says taka ni pesa. We want people to be aware, to take care of their environment and to embrace the circular economy so that we are responsible for the way we manage waste and how waste is recycled.’
Wangeci further commended the government for its commitment to implementing the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022, and the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, saying the policy framework provides a clear roadmap for waste governance in the country.
Mombasa County Chief Officer for Environment and Solid Waste Management Hamid Shehan said the ultimate goal of the programme is to instil a sense of personal responsibility among residents in managing waste. ‘What we have noticed is that everyone tries to pass the buck,’ he said.
Shehan explained that the county government is gradually transforming waste pickers from the informal sector into a more structured and formalised workforce that will play a key role in waste collection, segregation, and recycling. He noted that one of the main challenges is public sensitisation on waste segregation at source, as many residents feel they are already contributing to waste management through general garbage disposal.
Shehan added that the county is intensifying public awareness campaigns to ensure more households adopt segregation practices at source. He further stressed that plastic pollution remains a major global environmental challenge, not unique to Kenya, and requires coordinated efforts to ensure proper disposal and recycling.
Representatives of waste collection groups welcomed the initiative, saying it would strengthen recycling efforts while creating more employment opportunities for youth and community groups. Said Hamad, a representative of Earth Plus CBO, commended the programme, noting that the training had equipped community groups with practical skills in waste segregation, environmental awareness, and safe waste handling. ‘Improved recycling has enabled many waste pickers to earn stable incomes, support their families, pay school fees, and contribute to environmental conservation,’ he said.
