Environment and Climate Change Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced a new color-coded waste segregation system aimed at improving waste management and reducing pollution in Nairobi’s rivers, particularly the Nairobi River. Speaking at the COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, CS Duale emphasized the system’s role in addressing longstanding environmental challenges while aligning with the National Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022.
The system will require households to separate their waste into three categories: green for organic waste, blue for dry recyclables, and red for hazardous materials. Duale explained, “Every person pays for his garbage, am I right? The person who picks the garbage from your house must know where he dumps.”
Under this plan, waste collection trucks will transport waste to designated Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for processing based on type, ensuring materials are either recycled or properly disposed of.
Duale also highlighted misconceptions surrounding pollution sources in the Nairobi River. Contrary to popular belief, he attributed the majority of pollution to middle and upper-class households rather than informal settlements. “The informal settlements don’t pollute the river,” he noted. “The people who pollute the river are the middle class. Garbage is found in the middle class.”
The issue extends beyond households, with industrial and private waste collectors playing a significant role. A recent National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) report revealed that over 90% of pollution in Nairobi’s rivers originates from industries, slaughterhouses, and poorly managed sewage systems. Duale stated, “If you have a factory, you must show where and whether you are putting in place an effluent system. And I think now they are all complying with our conditions.”
The new initiative is part of Kenya’s broader transition to a circular economy, which prioritizes minimizing waste and promoting reuse and recycling. Duale underscored the importance of this shift, saying, “We must move toward a circular economy, where part of the waste can be recycled. Every supermarket should have a bin for organic waste.”
