Nairobi: An environmental lobby group has called on the Government to implement strategies that will protect the nation from the adverse effects associated with single-use plastics. Speaking in Nairobi during the Refill and Reuse Festival aimed at reducing single-use plastics, Greenpeace Africa Project Officer Hellen Dena emphasized the need for Kenya to shift towards sustainable packaging systems that not only safeguard the environment but also offer economic benefits to Kenyans.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dena highlighted that enhancing refill and reuse systems for single-use plastics is not only crucial for ecological health but also offers a viable model for poverty alleviation through job creation. She noted that promoting these models could significantly reduce the hidden costs of plastic pollution that currently burden governments and taxpayers.
Dena remarked, “Refill and reuse systems are not new to Africa. They are rooted in our culture and have existed since time immemorial. What is new is the invasion of single-use plastics pushed by corporations prioritizing profit over people and planet. Governments must invest in refill infrastructure and set clear targets that make reuse the norm, not the exception.” She further elaborated on the financial implications, stating, “Throwaway culture is expensive. Countries spend billions of dollars to clean up drainage systems, build incinerators, clean rivers, and cover health expenses linked to plastic pollution.”
The two-day festival, held from November 14-15, gathered local communities, civil society organizations, policymakers, manufacturers, and innovators to present refill and reuse options available in Kenya. The event also served as a platform to discuss the opportunities and challenges in mainstreaming sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics, emphasizing the practicality and affordability of alternatives to the throwaway culture.
Greenpeace Africa Plastics Campaigner Gerance Mutwol added, “Recycling is a distraction that allows corporations to keep producing more plastic while shifting responsibility to consumers and governments. Plastics persist in the environment throughout their lifecycle, leaching harmful chemicals into our soil, water, and bodies.” He stressed that refill and reuse systems prevent plastic pollution at the source and offer an environmental imperative and economic opportunity that governments should no longer ignore.
The festival also included participation from families, educational institutions, artists, and innovators who showcased refill stations, zero-waste exhibitions, and children’s upcycling art competitions. In August 2022, Greenpeace Africa criticized Kenya’s capability to resolve the plastic waste issue by 2030, labeling the Kenya Plastics Pact’s objectives as overly ambitious and unattainable.
The group argued that the production of plastic materials in the country exceeds its recycling capacity. They stated, “Data shows we can’t recycle our way out of the plastics crisis. Recycling does not match the scale of the plastic that’s being produced, which is one of the reasons why only nine per cent of all the plastic waste produced has been recycled.” Greenpeace also pointed out that even in developed countries with significant recycling investments, the recycling rate remains below 50 percent, with a minimal portion being reconverted into packaging.
The lobby group accused major plastic producers of exacerbating the pollution problem, stating that the problem will persist as long as large companies continue mass-producing plastic products. “While efforts by different stakeholders in reducing plastic pollution is critical…the real culprits are the big polluters,” the group asserted.
Kenya, like many developing countries, faces a significant environmental challenge due to increasing plastic pollution threatening both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Nairobi alone generates approximately 3,207 tonnes of waste daily, according to UN-Habitat. Globally, plastic leakage into the environment is projected to double, with plastic waste ballooning significantly by 2060.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that without drastic actions to curb demand and improve waste management, plastic pollution will rise, driven by increasing populations and incomes. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann emphasized the need for stringent, globally coordinated action to eliminate plastic leakage into the environment, proposing concrete policies throughout the lifecycle of plastics.
