KEPRO Urges Stakeholders to Turn Waste Awareness into Action

 By Faith wanza mueni 

PHOTO CAPTION:Stakeholders during the KEPRO Media Breakfast in Nairobi, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration and turning waste management awareness into meaningful action.

NAIROBI, Sept. 9, 2026 — The Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (KEPRO) has called for stronger collaboration among government, manufacturers, consumers, recyclers and other stakeholders to turn waste management awareness into measurable action.

KEPRO Chief Executive Officer James Odongo said awareness campaigns must go beyond informing the public and instead contribute to meaningful behavioural change and environmental stewardship.

Speaking during a KEPRO Media Breakfast in Nairobi themed “Shifting Mindsets, Driving Action: Communication as a Catalyst for Kenya’s Circular Economy,” Odongo said the media has a critical role in shaping public perceptions and influencing how society responds to environmental challenges.

“We are trying to move from awareness to meaningful action and we are starting to see media practitioners proactively trying to champion conversation and environmental stewardship,” Odongo said.

He said KEPRO, which focuses on non-hazardous waste categories, works with producers dealing with packaging materials including plastics, metals, aluminium, glass, paper and cartons.

Odongo noted that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is intended to ensure producers take greater responsibility for the environmental consequences of their products beyond the point of sale.

“Prior to 2017, producers in Kenya were okay with generating profits and really not taking care of the environmental consequences of their products,” he said, adding that EPR provides a forward-looking approach that places an added obligation on producers to address the environmental impact of their products.

Odongo said KEPRO has supported producers in adapting to the changing regulatory environment while encouraging sustainable production and circular economy practices.

He observed that organic waste accounts for between 60 and 70 per cent of Kenya’s waste profile, while paper and plastics also form a significant proportion of waste generated in the country.

The discussions also highlighted the role of Nairobi County Government in strengthening waste management through collaboration with producers, consumers and other actors along the waste value chain.

Christine Kivuva, Assistant Director in charge of Environmental Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement at Nairobi City County Government, said the county has significant opportunities to improve solid waste management through stronger partnerships.

“We have many opportunities, especially in solid waste management,” Kivuva said, noting that the legal framework governing waste management provides an opportunity for the county to work with relevant stakeholders to improve the environment.

She said waste management is a collective responsibility involving waste generators, producers and other players across the value chain.

Kivuva emphasised the need for all stakeholders to recognise their role in ensuring Nairobi remains clean and green.

From the manufacturing sector, Nancy Murethi, Green Growth and Climate Change Officer at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), said manufacturers are increasingly embracing EPR and circular economy practices.

Murethi said manufacturers have long recognised the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for sustainable business operations.

“They understand that they need to have a thriving environment for them to continue with business as usual,” she said.

She noted that manufacturers have been joining Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and taking steps to understand how they can manage waste generated from their products.

Murethi said some manufacturers are also embracing eco-design by considering waste management at the product development stage.

She added that EPR can help manufacturers reduce waste, lower operational costs and improve their competitiveness as they innovate.

“EPR is seen from a manufacturer’s perspective as a good move that will help them to design out waste, reduce how much is going to their landfills,” Murethi said.

However, she acknowledged that manufacturers remain at different stages of compliance, depending on their sectors, with those dealing heavily in packaging materials increasingly joining PROs.

Richard Kainikia, Secretary General of the Kenya Association of Waste Recyclers (KAWR), said waste should be viewed as an economic resource rather than merely a disposal problem.

“Waste is material to us. It is a genuine business that relies on supply and distribution just like any other business. Circular economy begins when someone identifies value in waste,” Kainikia said.

He called for greater emphasis on waste separation at source and proper handling of recyclable materials to prevent contamination and improve their recovery value.

Kainikia also stressed the importance of recognising people working across the waste value chain, saying the recycling sector provides economic opportunities while contributing to environmental protection.

The stakeholders identified several challenges slowing the transition to a circular economy, including the high cost of recycling, inadequate infrastructure, problematic packaging materials, poor waste separation and limited coordination between county governments and Producer Responsibility Organisations.KEPRO said the transition from awareness to action will require stronger collaboration among government, industry, consumers, recyclers and the media.

The organisation said the Media Breakfast also marked the transition from its Rada Safi awareness campaign to the next phase of dialogue and action through the fourth KEPRO Annual Circular Packaging Conference (KACPC IV).

The conference, scheduled for October 2, 2026, at Hyatt Regency Nairobi, will bring together policymakers, business leaders, manufacturers, recyclers, investors and sustainability experts to discuss sustainable packaging, innovation, accountability and Kenya’s circular economy.

KEPRO said the next phase will focus on transforming growing public awareness into practical action, partnerships and systems capable of delivering sustainable waste management and economic opportunities.