Kenya has made remarkable progress in shaping its environmental laws, starting with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of 1999, which laid the groundwork for how the country governs its environment. The Constitution of Kenya, adopted in 2010, strengthened this commitment by ensuring every citizen has the right to a clean and healthy environment. Over the years, Kenya has rolled out several important policies, such as the Sustainable Waste Management Act (2022) and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations (2024), aimed at tackling the growing challenge of waste management in the country.
Despite these positive steps, Kenya faces a serious waste problem, generating around 22,000 metric tonnes of waste every day (NEMA, 2023). A significant portion of this waste ends up in landfills and water bodies due to the lack of adequate waste management infrastructure. Urban areas, particularly Nairobi, struggle with ineffective waste disposal systems, underscoring the pressing need for innovative solutions like EPR to ensure sustainable waste management.
Against this backdrop, on March 26, 2025, Strathmore University Business School partnered with GFS East Africa to host a high-level Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) dialogue aimed at exploring how businesses can leverage EPR to promote sustainability within their value chains while enhancing their market presence.
The event brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including government representatives (specifically the Director of Enforcement and Compliance from the National Environment Management Authority), Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), the Retail Trade Association of Kenya, Bio Foods Limited, and the Kenya Association of Waste Recyclers. The focus was on how businesses and value chains can utilize EPR to further sustainability efforts while strengthening their market positions.
Prof. Jonathan Annan, Co-Academic Lead of the BSc. Supply Chain and Operations Management Programme and Director of the Supply Chain Hub officially opened the event, noting that adopting sustainable business practices is essential rather than a mere option in today’s business landscape. He called on all stakeholders to collaborate better to tackle ongoing challenges in recycling and waste management.
Some of the significant issues that emerged from the conversations include the lack of waste segregation at the source, difficulties in sourcing recyclable materials, and inadequate storage facilities, all of which hinder effective recycling. As discussions progressed, it became clear that achieving a truly circular economy in Kenya requires increased responsibility from businesses and value chains, supportive policies from regulatory bodies, and more active consumer engagement.
The role of waste pickers was also emphasized by most of the speakers. These individuals, although recognized as key contributors to the waste management value chain, often face several challenges, including:
- Lack of formal recognition and insufficient access to fair compensation and legal protections.
- Financial barriers that limit their ability to secure funding for waste processing
- Contamination issues and high separation costs that increase the logistical and operational burden of recycling
- Challenges associated with efficiently managing large quantities of waste.
To address these challenges and unlock potential opportunities, the stakeholders identified several strategies:
- Formalizing the role of waste pickers. Integrating waste pickers into the formal waste management sector can provide them with fair wages, legal recognition, and social protection, thereby empowering them to contribute more significantly to recycling efforts.
- Financial incentives and access to credit. The waste management sector can become a viable business opportunity. As the Secretary General of the Kenya Association of Waste Recyclers noted, “Recycling is a business, and waste is a resource.”
- Consumer education and awareness. Raising public awareness about the importance of responsible consumption and waste disposal is crucial. Education campaigns can engage the public and promote effective waste segregation, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of recycling programs.
- Collaborative stakeholder engagement. Successfully scaling EPR in Kenya requires collaboration among businesses, policymakers, consumers, and waste management organizations. This collaboration is essential for overcoming challenges and ensuring the smooth adoption of sustainable waste practices. Dr. Ayub Macharia, Director of Enforcement at the National Environment Management Authority, highlighted the importance of cooperation between business schools and PROs to enhance EPR success within value chains and commended Strathmore Business School for initiating this important dialogue.
As businesses navigate an ever-evolving regulatory landscape, incorporating EPR into their value chains has become a strategic necessity. By embracing EPR, Kenyan companies can lead in sustainability, enhance operational efficiencies, and contribute to a cleaner, more resilient future for all.
By Juliet Hinga and Mary Aming’a
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