The County Government in collaboration with the Danish Refugee Council has commissioned a plastic waste crusher for the Fair Recycling Project in Kakuma.
The County Executive for Tourism, Culture, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Elizabeth Loote, said an initiative by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Mr. Green Africa, and Unilever, have unified informal waste pickers into a commercial plastic recycling value chain in Kakuma and Kalobeyei.
The project involves the collection of plastic waste for aggregation and crushing in Kakuma. It is then transported to Nairobi for processing into pellets for sale to Unilever which produces finished products.
In her remarks, CECM Loote added the project represented a significant stride towards not only a clean environment but also sustainable development of livelihoods within the region.
“The implementation of the Fair Recycling Project in Turkana will provide a sustainable solution to the plastic menace, hence the need to replicate the project in other urban towns of the county,” she said.
She also underscored the county’s commitment to waste management with its development of a Waste Management Bill.
“The County Government is set to operationalize a plastic re-use facility in Lokaparparae, which will help manage plastic waste in Lodwar Municipality,” CEC Loote added.
DRC Country Director Simon Nzioka lauded the collaborative effort in the implementation of the project saying it would be in line with the County Government’s waste management effort.
“The project has integrated both the host and refugee communities, as well as registered and trained over 180 plastic waste pickers where 65% host and 35% refugees benefited,” he said.
The Chief Officer for Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Joseph Ekalale, called for the protection of plastic waste pickers with the provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs).
“We should also strive to create awareness on hazardous waste, even as we continue to sensitize the community on environment protection,” said CCO Ekalale.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Green Africa CEO, Keiran Smith, who called for collaboration in the implementation of community-based projects as they were sustainable.
Others who spoke were Director for Environment Phoebe Ekali, Director for Climate Change George Emase, ACC Eddyson Ochwae, and DRC Project Manager Maurice Onzere among others.
Partners who graced the occasion were; the Turkana Christian Development Mission, UNHCR, Pak-Pro, Lutheran World Federation, SNV, DanChurchAid, and PeaceWinds Japan.
