Kepro, Mombasa Push for Waste Segregation and Circular Economy

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (Kepro) in partnership with the Mombasa County Government has intensified efforts to promote responsible waste management through a week-long sensitisation programme targeting manufacturers, waste pickers and residents.

Speaking in Mombasa, the KEPRO board director Elidy Wangeci said the initiative sought to increase awareness of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations and encourage stakeholders across the waste value chain to embrace the principles of a circular economy.

The director said Kepro had held engagements with about 40 manufacturers to educate them on their obligations under the EPR regulations with support from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Mombasa County officials.

According to her Kenya has traditionally relied on a linear approach to waste management, where products are discarded after use, but stressed that the country must transition to a circular economy that promotes waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

She said one of the biggest challenges remains poor waste handling at household level, particularly the failure to segregate waste at source.

The director added that many people still consider waste management to be the responsibility of someone else making it difficult for waste pickers to recover recyclable materials efficiently.

She urged Kenyans to view waste as a valuable economic resource saying proper waste management not only protects the environment, but also creates business and employment opportunities.

The director praised the government for implementing the Sustainable Waste Management Act and the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations saying the legal framework clearly outlines the responsibilities of producers and other stakeholders in managing post-consumer waste.

Mombasa environment and solid waste management chief officer Hamid Shehan said the county was working with Kepro to build a culture of personal responsibility for waste management while formalising the work of waste pickers.

According to him the county has been registering and licensing community-based organisations (CBOs) involved in waste collection, enabling them to receive training on proper waste management practices and improve service delivery.

He said public awareness on waste segregation remains a major challenge as many residents view it as an additional burden despite its environmental and economic benefits.

To address this, the officer announced that Kepro and the county would pilot a waste segregation programme involving 1,000 households in Mombasa, building on successful experiences from areas where residents have already embraced the practice.

He warned that improperly disposed plastic waste often ends up in the ocean, where it contaminates marine life and eventually enters the human food chain, underscoring the need to increase plastic recycling.

Representatives of waste collection groups welcomed the partnership saying it would strengthen recycling efforts while creating more employment opportunities.

Said Hamad, a representative of Earth Plus CBO, said the training had equipped community groups with skills in waste segregation, environmental awareness and safe waste handling.

He added that improved recycling has enabled many waste pickers to earn stable incomes, support their families, pay school fees and contribute to environmental conservation.

Penina, a representative of Midela’s material recovery facility, said collaboration between recyclers, waste pickers and the Mombasa County Government has helped create jobs for young people while improving cleanliness across the city through increased recycling.

The stakeholders called on residents to segregate waste at household level and support recycling initiatives saying collective action is essential to achieving a cleaner environment and a sustainable circular economy.