Nyeri Waste Management Pilot Project is a project aiming at developing and testing scalable replicable model for a safe management of solid (municipal) and bio-medical wastes.

Nyeri town is posed with a challenge of unintentional organic pollution which is often due to the burning of these waste materials.

Ilima, a local NGO in partnership with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Nyeri Municipal Council is determined to see Nyeri town a free area from the health hazards posed by these waste materials.

Take for example the Mudavadi open air market in Nyeri town which operates just next to the main stage, a heap of waste lies beside it and next are people’s business premises where many people are operating from. This is just one area of interest where the project is said to kick off from.

Speaking to the Director Children’s Youth Empowerment Centre (CYEC) thunguma, where the project will be coordinated from, Mr. Paul Maina says that the wastes should not be looked upon just like issues of health rather they should be seen as income generating opportunities where the youths gets employment if this waste is handled and managed properly.

With this project running the youths are assured of benefiting from it as many employment opportunities will be created. According to the work plan there will be plastic containers which will be kept at the collection sites with specifications of which waste to put where, that is; the biodegradable, plastics, sharp objects and any other waste material. These containers will be labeled to assist the public during dumping

Now the big question is can waste management be an income generating activity for jobless youth?

 

By Catherine Magondu