Turning Waste to Value
WWF-Kenya is taking a leading role in promoting a circular plastics economy in Kenya’s Mombasa County. With the goal of transforming the city into a Plastic Smart City by 2030, the Danida Market Development Partnerships #WastetoValue Innovation Challenge is working to promote technical support and resources for effective plastic waste management. The challenge is also supporting businesses and organizations with innovative solutions in the plastic circular economy field, helping them advance their ventures for improved business results. The focus is on co-designing a thriving innovation ecosystem that assists individuals with promising solutions to become organized into business enterprises, with product development assistance and business training.
The coastal capital, Mombasa City generates approximately 900 tons of solid waste daily, with plastic waste comprising 9% (approximately 81 tonnes) of this total, according to a 2019 assessment by the UN Habitat and the County Government of Mombasa. However, only half of the plastic waste generated daily is processed for recycling. In response, WWF-Kenya has launched the Waste to Value Innovation Challenge to promote a circular plastics economy in Mombasa, with a focus on helping businesses and organizations that work towards effective plastic waste management. The challenge is supporting eight enterprises consisting of collectors, sorters/aggregators, and recyclers, with the goal of formalizing, improving logistics, and skills around the business case on collecting, sorting, and processing plastic waste in Coastal Kenya.
Circular Plastics Economy Takes Center Stage in Kenya
WWF-Kenya is championing a circular plastics economy in Mombasa County, with the aim of making Kenya’s second-largest city a Plastic Smart City by 2030. The Waste to Value Innovation Challenge is supporting businesses and organizations with innovative solutions in the plastic circular economy field, with the goal of transforming plastic waste otherwise discarded in the natural environment into a valuable commodity. Through this initiative, businesses are receiving technical support, resources, product development assistance, and business training. The goal is to promote a circular plastic economy and turn waste into value in Kenya.
From waste to value
‘‘WWF has made very impressive strides in collaboration with the partners under the Danida Market Development Partnerships programme in which the Waste-to-Value project contributes to tackling this plastic waste challenge whilst improving livelihoods for men, women and youth. The Royal Danish Embassy Nairobi is very optimistic in regards to this collaboration meeting all expected results’
Elma Adwa, Danida Business Coordinator
