Environment stakeholders call for partnership to eradicate plastic pollution menace

As the world commemorates environment day that is marked on June 5 globally, environmental stakeholders have called for partnerships to eradicate plastic pollution menace.

Speaking in Nanyuki town, Laikipia County after a two hour clean up exercise in Majengo informal settlement on Monday, the stakeholders said plastic pollution could be eradicated through recycling in a bid to create employment opportunities.

Laikipia County Deputy Governor Rueben Kamuri decried the increase of plastic usage which has led to pollution of water bodies and drainage blockage hence affecting the ecosystem.

He at the same pointed out that plastic pollution could be a good hub for mosquito breeding if not eradicated.

"Plastics are an eyesore to the environment and if thrown out recklessly, they destroy the environment's beauty and also pollute water bodies around us. All the agencies need to come together and eradicate the plastic pollution menace," said the deputy governor.

Kamuri further disclosed that to arrest plastic pollution menace, the county has developed a solid waste management policy.

Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Muli said that plastic pollution is a major threat to the environment and creating awareness on plastic waste management aimed at promoting the circular economy model which involves sharing, reusing, repairing and recycling of plastic wastes was important.

"When using plastics, if you can't use them properly, after use, ensure you take them to recyclers. It is the one way our youths can generate income. They should devise innovative ways," said the administrator.

Nanyuki based plastic recycler John Mwangi said that in Nanyuki alone, they collect about 30 tons of solid waste in a month.

He noted that transporting solid waste for recycling was the major challenge in eradicating the plastic eye sore in the town.

Mwangi said he had employed about 30 employees to assist him in plastic waste recycling.

He however observed that recyclers alone could not eradicate the plastic waste and called for more people to venture into the sector aimed at salvaging the ecosystem from the solid wastes pollution.

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Laikipia county coordinator John Muturo said that, as an environmental agency, they are committed to achieving zero waste targets in the country. He reiterated the need for partnership on solving the plastic wastes pollution problem.

On her part, World Wildlife Fund Kenya (WWF) Sub County Landscape officer Caroline Njiru who was one of the World environmental day sponsors revealed that they are set to hold a three days campaign within the Ewaso Nyiro basin dubbed "Journey of Water," starting tomorrow.

She said that the campaign would be geared towards educating the communities living in the northern parts of Kenya on the importance of protecting water catchment sources.

This year's environment day's theme is "Solution to Plastic Pollution".

By Muturi Mwangi