Call to reduce, recycle plastic waste

Nyeri, Tuesday June 6, 2023

KNA by Yvette Kimani and Mercy Ndegwa

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Nyeri County Director Samuel Nyaga has urged residents to embrace innovative ways of dealing with plastic waste.

Nyaga noted single use plastic waste as the major threat to the environment.

He noted that the ban on plastic bags in 2017 had made a comeback and urged members of the public to be responsible and make mindful purchasing decisions by choosing products with minimum or no plastic packaging.

“We are the ones supporting the comeback of the single use plastic bags by accepting to purchase goods wrapped inside them. The only way we can reduce or completely curb the market for the single use polythene bags is if consumers refuse to get their goods packaged in them however much it may be convenient for them. For instance, if you are in town and you need milk yet you have not carried a bottle you will be happy to get it in the clear polythene yet you know the damage it has on the environment when you dispose of it,” he said.

The director was speaking during World Environment Day celebrations at the Nyeri Water and Sewerage Company(NYEWASCO) sewerage treatment plant in Kangemi. This year’s theme ‘Solutions to plastic pollution’ was a clarion call on consumers to play their role in making conscious choices of how they dispose their waste and supporting innovative recycling technologies that can process complex plastic waste and transform them in to variable resources.

In Nyeri, the event was graced by Kenya Forest Services (KFS), Kenya wildlife Services (KWS), Kenya Water Tower Agency (KWTA), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA), County public Service and Sanitation and the County department of Water, Irrigation, Environment and Climate Change. Participants led the residents in cleaning the streets of Kangemi as part of the activities to mark the day.

In a speech which read on his behalf by Nyeri Deputy Governor, David Kinanire, Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga underscored the need for county residents to embrace proper waste management.

Kahiga said that there was need to educate the public on how to recycle and reuse some of the waste materials such as plastics.

He at the same time called on the residents to support the county government in adopting waste management solutions as a way of managing the waste that they generate.  

“Improving our recycling system is the big step we need to take as residents. For companies, it is also our corporate responsibility to advocate for plastic free packaging practices amongst our businesses by supporting companies that prioritise environment management practices and avoiding those that contribute to plastic pollution to drive a meaningful change,” said the governor.

Courtesy ; K. N. A