Gov’t proposes Environmental Restoration Fee to tackle pollution, climate change

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry has issued a public notice inviting comments on a newly proposed Environmental Restoration Fee.

This fee aims to address Kenya's growing environmental challenges, particularly pollution, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change.

The ministry, in a public notice released on Tuesday, stated that Kenya's Constitution emphasizes the importance of a clean, healthy environment and obligates both the government and citizens to protect and manage the country's natural resources.

It however noted that the country is presently facing severe environmental crises, adding that pollution is exacerbating biodiversity loss, and the country generates approximately 25,000 tons of solid waste daily, much of which is poorly managed.

This waste, it stated, often ends up in rivers and open dumpsites, thereby posing serious risks to public health and the environment.

The Aden Duale-led ministry also stated that, while Kenya has enacted various laws such as the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act and the Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022, significant financial challenges remain.

“Currently, all producers have Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations for the purposes of reducing pollution and the negative environmental impacts of the products they introduce in Kenyan,” read the notice.

“However, EPR does not cater for all the post-consumption aspect of waste management. Recycling and incineration processes still leave some residual waste behind which needs to be properly and sustainable disposed of.”

To bridge this gap, the government is proposing the Environmental Restoration Fee, which will fund essential initiatives like waste management infrastructure, ecosystem restoration programs, pollution control, and research into green technologies.

The fee will apply to imported finished products that significantly contribute to waste generation.

The ministry is hence urging the public to participate in shaping this policy by submitting comments by September 25, 2024.

Feedback can be sent via email to emcareview@environment.go.ke addressed to the attention of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment and Climate Change.