- Six years ago, Kenya took a bold step against plastic pollution by banning single-use plastic bags.
- Today, the country continues to struggle with illegal imports of single-use plastic bags.
As talks on how to address plastic pollution gets underway in Gigiri, Nairobi, a plastic recycling company is turning the tide on plastic pollution one step at a time.
Mr Green Africa CEO and cofounder Keiran Smith, says his company collects around 6,000 metric tons of plastic waste every year.
“Since inception, we have reached 19,000 metric tons, which is around 1 billion bottles. 6,000 metric tons is roughly six times the pile of the ivory tower. We are making investments to do 20,000 metric tons every year,” he says.
There are ongoing efforts to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
Smith says he supports the ongoing efforts.
He says a global parameter on plastic pollution will make it easier to develop solutions and make investments in such solutions.
“If we are to figure out every country differently on how you need to regulate how plastic is produced and recycled, etcetera, you will take much more time to set up these solutions in various nations. If there is a global framework, we can bring solutions much quicker within the frameworks,” Smith says.
In March 2022, the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) adopted a plan to develop an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
The instrument will also consider the marine environment.
An intergovernmental committee is in the process of developing an instrument based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal.
The committee has held two sessions to develop the plastic treaty, with the third session scheduled for November 13–19 this year at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi.
An international legally binding agreement should be ready by 2024.
Smith, who came into the country in 2015, says African nations, or the global south, can leapfrog other countries in moving away from a linear economy to a circular one.
“Here, we can set ourselves out for a circular economy, leverage investments, invest in these solutions, and then that is why we are here as Mr Green Africa. We are not a silver bullet, but we show that it is possible,” he says.
Though he came to the country with a background in banking, Smith knew that waste had value.
Smith says going circular will attract investments, create jobs, and benefit the economy.
“As entrepreneurs, we have to be optimistic to look at the bright side of the coin and not the bad side,” he says.
Mr Green Africa has employed 150 Kenyans.
Smith says nobody initially talked about the circular economy and the importance of plastic recycling.
He says Mr Green Africa was started based on two principles.
“The first one was based on the buyback of plastic waste from communities in a fair, ethical, transparent, and dignified manner. The second principle was about local value addition.”
Mr Green Africa now provides raw materials that can be used for different applications, such as packaging.
The company collaborates with brand owners such as Shell, Total, and Unilever to enable them to use recycled material.
“In the beginning, when we started, there was a perception around plastic waste and the recyclability of the waste that it could never be of good quality and that if we took it into the plastic industry, it had to be much cheaper,” he says.
Smith says some of the barriers were broken after brand owners like Shell, Total, and Unilever used recycled plastic material in their packaging.
He says that today, there are over 400 companies and brands that have made commitments to use recycled plastics.
“We work with them to show that it is possible. We are showing that it is not just about selling commodities; it is partnering and showcasing that it is possible,” he says.
Smith says his company is also focused on improving the livelihood of the over 2,500 waste pickers.
“We have a loyalty programme that enables waste pickers to select items that improve their livelihoods. It could be gumboots, food, or a variety of elements that they want to choose from,” he says.
He says the move is part of a dignified way of showing that we are truly working to improve the livelihoods of people and not just make quick profits.
When the material arrives at the company, workers will first separate it by type and colour.
Smith says the move is crucial because it creates the highest possible value that is brought back into a circular circle.
“Plastic does not have a lot of value if you mix all the plastics and try to recycle them. If you separate them by type and colour, you can create much more value that can go back into high-quality, high grade application,” he says.
The World Wide Fund for Nature Regional Plastics Policy Coordinator for Africa, Zaynab Sadan, says the annual global production of plastics doubled from 2000 to 2019, with 400 million metric tons produced in 2022.
She said 90 per cent of the global production was virgin plastic, nine percent was recycled plastic, and 0.5 per cent was bio-based.
"Globally, plastic production and waste generation are set to triple by 2060 if business continues as usual. A quarter of the over 10,000 unique chemicals used in plastics are of potential concern to human health and safety,” she warned.
Six years ago, Kenya took a bold step against plastic pollution by banning single-use plastic bags.
Today, the country continues to struggle with illegal imports of single-use plastic bags.