Kenya hosts Africa Waste is Wealth conference

With the theme of "Promoting Effective Waste Management Practices for Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation," this conference aims to address the pressing issue of waste management in East Africa. 

The conference being held in Nairobi is a collaborative effort between Taka Ni Mali's Transform program, supported by the FCDO, Unilever, and Ernst and Young, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Accelerator Lab. 

It seeks to unite stakeholders from government institutions, the private sector, development partners, and finance organizations to develop regional commitments for scaling sustainable waste management models.

Eng. Festus Ng’eno, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, acknowledged Kenya's leadership in waste recycling in the region. 

However, he highlighted the challenge of operating in formalized and sustainable waste management systems, leading to suboptimal waste collection volumes based on market requirements.

“Kenya is a leader in promoting waste recycling in the region, though waste recycling industries are faced with the challenge of operating in formalized, sustainable waste management systems. As such the volume of waste collected has not been optimized based on market requirements,” said the PS.

The staggering statistics show that Africa currently generates approximately 80 percent of solid waste, with an estimated value of eight billion dollars annually if recycled. 

Unfortunately, only about 11 percent of this waste is recycled, predominantly by the informal sector. As Africa's population is projected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050 and 4.2 billion by 2100, urgent action is required to address waste management challenges, combat climate change, and prepare for the expected surge in waste generation.

Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, Executive Director of Alliance for Science pointed out that East Africa is taking the lead in waste management and sustainability issues. 

“Many countries in the Global North are struggling to catch up, but due to population growth, rapid urbanization, and an emerging middle class, there is an urgent need for African countries to accelerate action on waste management as an integral action on climate change and to address current waste management challenges and prepare for the expected growth in waste generation in the coming century,” said Dr. Ochugboju.

Mary Ngechu, the patron of Taka Ni Mali, outlined the objectives of the conference, which include identifying policy and regulatory priorities for sustainable waste management, showcasing innovative approaches to commercializing sustainable waste management, highlighting the role of technology in waste management, and fostering green financing investments in sustainable waste management.

John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of the East African Business Council (EABC), stressed that climate change and the circular economy are top priorities for the Council. 

The AWWS conference serves as a platform to raise awareness about waste management and its detrimental impact on the environment.