Environment CS Aden Duale has directed that all households are required to separate their waste as stipulated in the National Substance Waste Management Act 2022.
In an update on Wednesday, November 13, the CS pointed out that households shall have three color-coded bags; green for organic waste, blue for dry recyclables, and red for hazardous items.
Duale also stated that waste collection tracks that will pick up these items, shall separate them at a Material Recovery Facility where sorting will be done.
"Waste collection tracks pick up these separated items, transporting them to a Material Recovery Facility with two main chambers for sorting: one for wet and one for dry West, while hazardous red-bagged waste is sent for incineration," the CS said.
Additionally, Duale noted that waste trucks would carry a tracking document and must follow designated routes to disposal sites.
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"To ensure traceability, waste trucks will carry a NEMA-issued tracking document and follow the designated roots to disposal sites," he stated.
As for waste from informal settlements, Duale said it can be managed through sustainable means such as using bio-digesters.
"Waste from informal settlements, which is primarily organic (less than 1% industrial) can be managed sustainably using bio-digesters," the CS directed.
Duale also mentioned that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had identified at least 145 facilities releasing untreated waste into the Nairobi River.
"Regarding industrial pollution, NEMA has identified 145 facilities along the Nairobi River basin that release untreated industrial waste due to malfunctioning Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP)," he said.
Notably, Duale had issued a warning to companies and individuals fond of polluting the Nairobi River, threatening to shame those found culpable.
Speaking during a function at State House on October 10, 2024, the CS warned that the extent of punishment would include asking banks to deny credit to those found responsible for environmental pollution.
"We will shame, in public, in private, those who pollute Nairobi River and all our urban and rural rivers. And we will ask even banks that you must deny credit to customers who participate in the pollution of the environment," Duale said.
