Kenya on Thursday joined the rest of the world to mark the first-ever International Day of Zero Waste when calls for sustainable production and consumption were made.
The International Day of Zero Waste was observed for the first time on March 30, 2023, and jointly facilitated by UNEP and UN-Habitat.
The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of zero waste and responsible consumption and production practices and urban waste management contributing to achieving sustainable development.
It also calls on rethinking practices and embracing a circular economy, which means reducing resource use and emissions to the environment throughout all stages of products’ life cycles, as a key for addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution, and putting the planet, and humanity, on a path to health and prosperity.
Facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN-Habitat, the day promotes zero waste initiatives and highlights how they can reduce resource use and produce less waste and pollution at all stages of a product’s life cycle to advance sustainable development.
Globally, the day was marked in New York while in Kenyait was marked at United Nations Environment Programme in Gigiri.
The National Environment Management Authority director general Mamo Mamo represented Environment CS Soipan Tuya.
Mamo said how Kenyans behave regarding the protection of the environment needs ‘divine interventions.’
The DG said the country has regulations and policies and that the right to a clean environment has been enshrined in the Kenya Constitution 2010.
“Waste management is everyone’s responsibility,” Mamo said.
Mamo said solid waste management has been devolved.
However, counties have challenges.
“We have given counties 10 minimum points,” Mamo said.
The 10 minimum points concern handling solid waste along the value chain.
Mamo said the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 will transition Kenya from a linear way of managing waste to a circular one.
Kenya banned the use of single-use carrier bags in February 2017.
The ban went into effect on August 28 of that year and applied to carrier bags and flat bags used for commercial and household packaging.
Before 2017, about 100 million plastic bags were used in Kenyan supermarkets every year.
Being found with banned plastics in Kenya attracts a fine of between Sh2 million and Sh4 million or a jail term of one to two years—or both.
On June 5, 2019, Kenya banned single-use plastics on beaches and in national parks, forests, and conservation areas.
The ban prohibits visitors from carrying plastic water bottles, cups, disposable plates, cutlery, and straws into national parks, forests, beaches, and conservation areas.
Initially, plastic bottles were on the government's radar as they pollute the environment.
Plastic pollution has over time surfed onto beaches, settling onto the ocean floor and rising through the food chain onto dinner tables.
A spot check by the Star in various markets however shows that most grocery shops are still using banned plastics.
Those selling sugar cane too package them in the banned plastics, with heightened attention.
They claim authorities banned plastic carrier bags and they were not given alternatives.
“You cannot package some of the groceries in woven bags that were provided,” one of the traders who requested anonymity for fear of being arrested said.
Other owners of groceries are of the same view.
Today, most groceries think twice before wrapping their wares such as sukuma wiki using banned plastics for fear of being arrested, especially when they do not know the customer well.
Unlike before, banned plastics are now being traded secretly.
Those manning groceries will insist that one provides their bags, especially when they do not know the buyer.
However, familiar buyers are freely allowed to carry their products using the banned plastics.
The grocery owners rarely reveal where they get the supplies of the banned products.
The fear has gripped most of them following several arrests that have been made by Inspectors from the National Environment Management Authority.
Nema says over 100 traders and three wholesalers/stockists of banned plastic carrier bags have so far been arrested and arraigned.
In 1950, the world's population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tonnes of plastic, while in 2016; a global population of more than seven billion people produced over 300 million tons of plastic—with severe consequences for marine plants and animals.
Sixty-five per cent of plastic waste produced today goes to the environment as only 15 per cent is recycled.
Without urgent action, this will rise to nearly 4 billion tonnes by 2050.
Waste – including plastic packaging, food, clothes, electronics and debris from mining and construction sites – leads to disastrous consequences for human health and the economy.
Experts say improper management of waste aggravates the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution.
It disproportionately affects the poor, and up to 4 billion, people lack access to proper waste disposal.
During the marking of the day, experts explore ways zero waste can be achieved.
They said efforts must be aimed at reducing, reusing, redesigning and recycling.
The benefits of zero waste include clean seas and fresh air, fertile soils and sanitary cities, resilient economies and sustainable extraction.
Taita Taveta Governor said there should be responsible production, consumption and disposal of waste.
Mwadime showcased the efforts being put in his County to the county the impact of waste.
The Governor said 195 tonnes of waste are generated in his county per day but only 58 tonnes are collected per day meaning 30 per cent is collected.
Mwadime said only one per cent of waste is recycled.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message on the Day said: “The waste crisis is undermining the Earth’s ability to sustain life. Waste costs the global economy billions of dollars each year,”
“By treating nature like a dumping ground, we are digging our graves. It is time to reflect on the toll that waste is taking on our planet – and to find solutions to this gravest of threats.”
