TakaTaka ni Mali has been officially appointed as Kenya’s ambassador to the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), marking a significant milestone for the country’s waste management sector.
As an ISWA ambassador, TakaTaka ni Mali will represent Kenya’s waste management industry on the global stage, gaining access to the world’s leading network for promoting sustainable and professional waste management practices.
ISWA is a prestigious international organization uniting waste professionals and experts, dedicated to advancing sustainable waste management and driving the transition to a circular economy worldwide.
ISWA has projected a staggering rise in global municipal solid waste, increasing from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. In Kenya, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) estimates that the country generates 22,000 tonnes of waste per day, with urban areas like Nairobi contributing 2,400 tonnes daily. However, only 45-50% of this waste is collected and properly managed, largely due to inadequate infrastructure for waste collection and disposal.
Speaking at the ISWA 2024 Conference, Taka Taka ni Mali founder Mary Ngechu emphasized the urgent need for continuous education and capacity building for waste management stakeholders in Kenya. She stressed that both technical expertise and policy development must align with international best practices to ensure the sector’s success and sustainability. She further noted that being appointed as the ISWA ambassador for Kenya presents a valuable opportunity to enhance the country’s waste management efforts by working with global experts and introducing innovative solutions to improve efficiency in the sector.
She further stated, “While the community has made strides in promoting proper waste management, the sector remains largely unregulated, posing significant challenges to the effectiveness of policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Engaging with global leaders at ISWA and more so at this Conference presents an invaluable opportunity to tackle these issues and adopt proven solutions that can transform waste into wealth for a sustainable future. I’m particularly eager to explore how technology can be used for data collection and the essential infrastructures we can implement as a community to drive smarter decision-making in solid waste management.”
Takataka ni Mali has also led a delegation of waste management stakeholders from the East Africa Region to the ISWA Conference 2024, marking a pivotal moment for East Africa, hosting its first-ever East African Plenary Session, themed “The Role of Technology & Innovation in Waste Management.”
East Africa Business Council CEO Adrian Raphael Njau has also emphasized the immense potential of solid waste management to create jobs and address unemployment. In a statement on the ISWA Conference, he noted, “Solid waste management provides a massive opportunity to bridge the unemployment gap if stakeholders can come together to initiate structured systems for proper waste collection and recycling.”
Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) CEO, Henry Ochieng, speaking at the ISWA 2024 Conference, emphasized the urgent need to address poor waste management, stating, “We recognize the severe impact it has on both the environment and the economy. Engaging with global leaders in waste management gives us the chance to adopt innovative techniques that can revolutionize the sector within the East African Community. We are ready to embrace change and elevate our region’s socio-economic standing.”
Joyce Gachugi Waweru, CEO of Packaging Producer Responsibility Organisation (PAKPRO), echoed this sentiment, stressing that international operating procedures for Kenya’s waste management stakeholders are key to improving efficiency.
“While we’ve made strides, our sector still faces inequalities—from stakeholder participation to consumer responsibility in proper waste disposal. This conference is a critical learning opportunity and a platform for us to collaboratively develop strategic plans for better and sustainable waste management in Kenya,” concluded Ms. Waweru.
The ISWA 2024 Conference, running from 15 to 18 September, will be hosted in Africa for the first time. It offers a chance for waste management experts to share knowledge, innovations, and enjoy technical site visits and cultural experiences. The delegation from Kenya includes Packaging Producer Responsibility Organisation (PAKPRO), Bio Foods Products, Kenya Alliance of Residents Association (KARA), Greenleaf Services Ltd, The GSMA and Safaricom PLC.
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