A Comprehensive Plastic Waste Management Strategy for the City of Nairobi

Abstract

This comprehensive plastic waste management strategy for the city of Nairobi is based on the 3R approach that focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling generated wastes. The 3R approach was endorsed by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) as an effective means of achieving sustainable consumption and production. A 3R policy calls for an increase in the ratio of recyclable plastic wastes, further reusing of raw materials and manufacturing wastes, and overall reduction in resources and energy used. It actually aims to set up a sound material’s economy where the consumption of natural resources is sustainable. This strategy seeks to bring together in a form of a working partnership key plastic waste management stakeholders namely (City Council of Nairobi, relevant Government Ministries, regulatory agencies, business associations, plastic manufacturers, retailers, research institutions, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), youth groups, informal waste recyclers, community based organizations (CBOs), consumers, donors, and the media) into a functional Plastic Waste Return Scheme and/or buy back scheme that will facilitate the collection and returning for reuse, recovery and recycling all categories of plastics that find their way into the city environment under what is being referred to here as the “Expanded Stakeholder Responsibility”. Key components of this strategy include the Rapid Results Initiative, stakeholder participation, public education and awareness; capacity building and technological support; setting up of plastic waste recycling demonstrations; information dissemination on best available practices; policy dialogue and analysis; good environmental governance and networking; prudent financial management; actual plastic waste recycling; revision of our education curricular and undertaking of R&D in plastic waste recycling. The City Council of Nairobi (CCN) with the active participation of neighbourhood associations will drive this strategy. The strategy seeks to reduce barriers to the national flow of recyclable goods and materials; cooperation among different stakeholders in the public and private sectors and the promotion of innovative science and technology for the promotion of 3 Rs. The functionality of this scheme will need massive awareness raising, serious consultations, attractive incentives and penalties as well, and active public and community participation and interaction. A number of factors are critical in influencing the effectiveness of the 3R approach. These include an enabling policy framework; education and raising awareness of all concerned stakeholders; and capacity building and technology support, including human resources, technology, finance and other inputs. A critical aspect that cuts across the above three factors relates to the acceptance and implementation of this 3R strategy and related policies by principle stakeholders such as the City Council of Nairobi (CCN), the Ministry of Local Government, business associations, and the residents of the city of Nairobi. A number of problems exist in facilitating the smooth uptake of 3R policies and strategies based on lessons learnt in the developed world. Key among them is the gaps in information and practical application of sustainable solutions; access to appropriate and useful information; and of translating problems faced by industry into research priorities; and the implementation of innovative research outputs on the ground. Anticipated barriers to the concrete implementation of 3 R policies are related to policy, information, capacity building, financial and socio-cultural priorities. Ways and means for overcoming these barriers have been presented in this strategy for purposes of increasing the wide spread adoption of the 3 R philosophy.