Mombasa Acquires Ksh95 Million Compactor Trucks to Address Garbage Menace
One of thenewly acquired Compactor Trucks. (Photo By Mbungu Harrison)
By Mbungu Harrison
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Mombasa County has acquired new garbage compactor trucks worth Ksh95 million to tackle the city’s long-standing waste management crisis.
As Kenya’s leading Port City, Mombasa has for years battled with waste overflow, foul odours, and illegal roadside dumping problems that have tarnished the city’s image as a top tourism destination.
Each of the new trucks can collect between 10 and 12 tonnes of compacted waste with one compactor carrying nearly four times the load of the old tippers previously used by the county.
“We launched new garbage compactor trucks worth Ksh95 million at the County Department of Environment Yard in Mvita, a major boost to Mombasa’s waste management efforts,” Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said.
According to him the use of modern garbage compactors mirrors practices in developed countries such as the United States and several European nations where press compactors are used to reduce the volume of municipal solid waste for more efficient collection, transport, and disposal.
The governor emphasized that the adoption of compactors marks a global shift toward sustainable and efficient waste management.
“Lorries are not supposed to be used when collecting garbage along the roads or streets, so compactors will be the game changer. It’s a global practice everywhere in the world.”
The move follows a recent partnership between the county government and local Waste Management Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) aimed at ensuring cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable neighborhoods across Mombasa.
“This means cleaner neighborhoods, faster collection, and greater efficiency in our solid waste operations.”
In the United States, garbage compactors are widely used in homes, businesses, and construction sites to minimize waste volume and reduce the number of collection trips a model Mombasa is now adopting to modernize its waste management systems.
He revealed that the county has begun implementing waste segregation at the source, a policy aimed at improving recycling and environmental sustainability.
The county boss said enforcement measures will be strengthened to ensure full compliance.
“Through this investment and our partnership with local Waste Management CBOs, we are delivering on our promise of a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Mombasa.”
The introduction of the compactor trucks represents a major stride toward efficient and environmentally responsible waste management in Mombasa, setting a benchmark for other counties across Kenya.
