Kisumu City County is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria and as the third largest city in Kenya, covers a total of 417 km2. Of this, 297 km2 is dry land and the remaining 120 km2 is under water. These areas are densely populated with limited access to basic services such as electricity, sanitation, piped water and solid waste management services. The waste generation rate in the City is estimated to be between 200 and 450 tons of waste daily (Agong and Otom 2015; Gutberlet et al. 2017; Magezi 2015; NEMA 2015). Only a meager 20% of the generated waste was collected and transported to an overflowing open dumpsite located at Kachok, a mere 2 km from the central business district. This site had a troubling history, with dumping activities dating back to 1975. Over time, the dumpsite reached its capacity, resulting in hazardous overflows. According to Agong’ and Otom, (2015), over two thirds of the waste at this site is organic and therefore biodegradable. However, plastics, polythene bags, broken glass, and metallic cans constitute a substantial portion of the remaining waste. The management of waste volume primarily relies on open burning and irregular compaction practices. The remaining 80% accumulates in skips, on vacant land and along passageways as evidenced by the numerous garbage heaps scattered around the City. Some waste remains
unmanaged, posing environmental threats and health hazards due to open dumping and burning, which emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Waste collection services by the City are mostly concentrated within the CBD and the main market areas around Kisumu City. According to Agong and Otom (2015), Kisumu’s waste consists of organic material (63%), paper (12.2%), plastic (10.2%), glass (3.2%), scrap metal (1.3%) and other (9.5%). The quantities of solid waste generation in Kisumu are likely to increase further due to improved income levels, increasing population, changing lifestyles and consumption patterns.
Sustainable solid waste management in Kisumu faces significant challenges. These include inadequate funding, a shortage of skilled personnel, and poor public attitudes toward waste management. Rapid urbanization, population growth, changing lifestyles, and consumption patterns contribute to increasing waste generation. The city grapples with overflowing dumpsites and pollution from uncontrolled waste disposal. Despite efforts, sustainable waste management remains elusive due to insufficient resources and improper disposal practices. Public awareness and participation are also lacking. In response to these challenges, the County took proactive steps by establishing the Maendeleo Waste Recovery Center. This center, constructed by the County Government, focuses on recycling waste, selling plastic waste to Apex traders, and facilitating the city’s waste reduction efforts. This initiative represents a significant stride towards addressing the pressing issue of waste management in Kisumu City County.
Implementation of the practice (Solution Path):
The Department of Environment in Kisumu City is responsible for providing solid waste management services. However, due to a lack of technical capacity and financial resources, the department struggles to effectively manage the waste generated within the city. To address these challenges and expand waste management services, the County collaborated strategically with UN-Habitat, the Civil Society Urban Development Forum, and the Kisumu Waste Actors Network (KIWAN) Sacco (referred to as “the Association”). Their collective goal was to revolutionize waste management practices within the city and overcome the resource scarcity hindering effective waste collection and disposal.
The County further expanded its waste management services by contracting private collectors and initiating Private-Public Partnerships. These collectors were issued permits, allowing them to provide door-to-door waste collection services to their clients. One of the key local stakeholders in this initiative is the Kisumu Waste Actors Network (KIWAN) Sacco. Established in April 2017 and registered in 2019, KIWAN has a membership of 675 members, including waste recyclers, transporters, pickers, and collectors. The Sacco has managed to standardize fees for waste collection and buying/selling of recycled materials.
The Maendeleo Material Recovery Center was constructed between 2019 and 2020 to serve as a hub for waste recovery, sorting, and sale. The cost for its construction incurred by the County are estimated to be 5M with Kisumu Waste Actors Network (KIWAN) Sacco contributing Ksh. 800, 000 on upgrade from 2 phase to 3 phase specific to the electricity supply. Despite facing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center was launched in 2021 and operates from 7 am to 6 pm. The staff at the center conduct door-to-door waste collection services, collect from the Kachok dumpsite, city garbage collection bins, and sell to the Maendeleo Center, which has created its network of customers from individuals to institutions looking for recycling materials.
Various types of waste are received from different sources, including households, businesses, and institutions. For homesteads, the monthly collection fees range from 100 to 500 Kenyan shillings (Ksh) per month depending on whether the residence is in a low-, middle- or high-income area. For institutions, service charges can be as high as Ksh 7000 per month depending on waste volumes. In addition, any individual that brings materials for recycling to the Maendeleo Center is paid according to the type and quality of the materials, and also how much they weigh- a fixed rate of buying at 22 shillings and selling at 35 shillings a kilo.
These wastes undergo a sorting process, facilitated by trained staff which involves separating recyclable materials such as plastics, glass, metals, and paper from non-recyclable waste. Once sorted, the recyclable materials are further processed to prepare them for sale and reuse. Plastics are cleaned, sorted by type, and shredded into manageable pieces. Glass and metals are similarly cleaned and sorted to ensure purity and quality. Paper is baled and prepared for recycling.