Konza Technopolis has launched Africa’s first automated pneumatic waste collection system.
The system by global environmental technology leader Envac valued at an estimated Sh1.1 billion (€8 million), places the smart city at the forefront of digital and green transformation in East Africa.
The innovative system was implemented through Italian construction firm ICM S.p.A as part of the Technopolis’s commitment to building a smart, clean, and efficient city.
By integrating Envac’s state-of-the-art waste management solution, the smart city aims to elevate the quality of life for residents while demonstrating global best practices in sustainable urban infrastructure.
It forms part of Phase 1 of Konza Technopolis’s development and reflects its broader vision of becoming a zero-emission, smart, and sustainable city.
“The integration of Envac’s pneumatic waste management system at Konza Technopolis enhances sustainable urban living and promotes a modern, eco-conscious city,” Konza Technopolis CEO John Paul Okwiri said.
The system has key features that include 100 waste disposal points linked to buildings, a 15-kilometre underground pipe network, 880 automated valves, and 220 additional disposal points.
Waste is separated at source into organic, mixed, plastic, and paper, improving recycling efficiency.
Once the inlets reach capacity, the system automatically activates a vacuum process, transporting the waste through underground pipes to a central collection station where it is stored in designated containers before removal.
By eliminating the need for traditional garbage trucks, the system reduces carbon emissions, noise pollution, and improves hygiene and cleanliness, key components of Konza’s goal to set a new standard for smart urban living.
CEO of Envac Iberia and president of Envac EMEA, Carlos Benard highlighted the system’s long-term impact.
“We are very proud to contribute to the Konza Technopolis project by incorporating our pneumatic waste collection technology," he said.
"The Envac system will help improve essential services, boost recycling rates, reduce CO₂ emissions, and protect the environment for future generations.”
Konza Technopolis is a flagship government project, developing as a Science Park and Area of Innovation within the largest smart city project in East and Central Africa.
The smart city project is managed by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy.
Spanning 5,000 acres, the smart city is envisioned as a leading science, innovation, and technology hub in East and Central Africa, popularly known as “Africa’s Silicon Savannah''.
