Waste Management Lessons for Kenya from the Swedish Model :: Kenya

The ban on plastic bags in Kenya should be applauded; plastic had become a big threat. This helped to maintain a clean and supportive environment.

Traveling across the country, one can not fail to notice the difference since the ban – the streets are cleaner and the landscape more appealing

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When customers visit supermarkets and other retail stores, they must carry their own biodegradable carrier bags or purchase one. This has led the public to be vigilant in making sure that he has a carry bag or that he is willing to incur additional charges.

However, the problem of sustainable waste management in Kenya persists. Most of our solid waste goes to landfill and landfill sites that are frequented by street families. Waste produced in the country should be better used than simply dumped. It can be turned into biogas energy, electricity, other new products or raw materials for other processes.

A while ago, a group of 20 people from Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda, of which I was a member, went to Sweden for an education training program. on mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Among other issues discussed, we had the opportunity to learn more about Sweden 's waste management system and culture.

The waste

Most Swedes sort their waste at the point of generation (houses and offices), depositing each type of waste in separate containers which are then collected by the local municipality.

Waste management and recycling in Sweden are very advanced, so the country is struggling to find enough waste, which forces it to import from other countries to operate the factories recycling.

In Linkoping, Sweden, organic waste from the canteen and households is converted into biogas used by the majority of public transit buses.

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. Most of the household waste is recycled. Less than 1% is destined for landfill sites, which is the trend since 2011. Sweden has introduced this system because the culture of environmental awareness is instilled in society.

How can Kenya adopt such a waste management system? As the Kenyan population continues to increase and as more people move to urban areas, waste generation will certainly increase. National and county governments need to put in place measures to ensure sustainable waste management. This could include several things.

First, put in place waste management policies and strengthen the implementation of the appropriate disposal of waste, including developing plans of action for waste prevention, introduce a levy on the collection of waste. For example, countries like Rwanda have been at the forefront of the ban on single-use plastics.

Recycling Plants

Second, ensure that strategic locations in cities, shopping centers and bus stadiums, among others, are equipped with public bins of different colors, clearly identified for recyclable and non-recyclable waste. This will help facilitate collection, recycling and waste management.

Third, invest in recycling plants for the production of biogas and electricity from biodegradable waste such as household organic waste, supermarkets, slaughterhouses and food industries. This will be particularly important in protecting our forests, which are the main source of energy for most households in Kenya, with 80% of rural households dependent on firewood.

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Fourth, raise awareness and educate society about proper waste management through the principle of reduce, reuse, recycle. It is necessary to change the culture of waste management and people's mindsets to take responsibility for managing the waste and to ensure that they are disposed of properly.

If the government can take steps to ensure proper waste management, from selective collection of garbage to recycling plants to energy production from waste, Kenya will have taken a step decisive step towards reducing environmental degradation.

As the world moves towards the fight against plastic pollution, Kenya should strive to be a powerful and efficient country to ensure a clean and conducive environment for all people. citizens.

Ms Kerichu is Executive Director, Kenya Forestry Society

The opinions and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Standardmedia.co.ke