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Community-Led Zero Waste in Focus

Zero Waste Systems are proving that with the right design, responsibility and community leadership, plastic pollution can be prevented before it even begins.

Zero Waste Systems are proving that with the right design, responsibility and community leadership, plastic pollution can be prevented before it even begins.
During the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives(OECPR 7) week, we hosted a side event, ‘Zero Waste Systems: A Community-Driven Solution to Plastic Pollution,’ on the 4th of December. This was held in the lead-up to UNEA 7, in collaboration with the Heinrich Boll Foundation. Attracting a good number of practitioners, policymakers and civil society representatives, practical and community-led zero waste solutions were spotlighted. 

 
Insights from the Side Event 

Speakers shared first-hand experiences from the ground and called for stronger civil society involvement in the Global Plastics Treaty process.

Griffins Ochieng’ highlighted the importance of showcasing implementation and ensuring waste pickers are fully integrated across the waste value chain. He pointed to pollution and health risks from open burning as persistent challenges.

Dorothy Otieno emphasised the Zero Waste Hierarchy and the need for product redesign that enables repair, reuse, sorting, and recovery. She noted that decentralised systems and proper tools, such as MRFs, help improve waste management and create more employment opportunities for waste pickers.

Dr Ayub Macharia, Enforcement Director at NEMA (National Environment Management Authority) presented Kenya’s legal framework, including the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2021, EMCA, EPR Regulations, Waste Management Regulations 2024, and Plastic Packaging Regulations 2024. He underscored enforcement on segregation at source, expanding MRFs, the shift from dumpsites to engineered landfills, and penalties for producers who fail to comply with EPR.

Isiah Odhiambo, Wastepickers representative at Kisumu Wastepickers Association, shared practical experiences from zero waste training and local implementation, demonstrating both success and remaining gaps in awareness and waste segregation.

The discussion reaffirmed that zero-waste systems protect health, support livelihoods, and offer scalable pathways to reduce plastic pollution.

The future of the Zero Waste System in Kenya

Looking ahead, the momentum behind zero waste in Kenya continues to grow. Strengthening producer responsibility, expanding community-led initiatives, and investing in infrastructure like MRFs will play a crucial role in scaling these solutions nationwide. Increased collaboration between national and county governments, producers, and grassroots actors is essential to accelerate prevention and ensure that no community is left behind.

As negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty continue, Kenya has an opportunity to champion zero waste as the most effective pathway to end plastic pollution. With bold policy implementation, improved product design, and full recognition of waste pickers as environmental stewards, zero waste systems can deliver healthier environments, dignified livelihoods, and a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.

side event presentation Dorothy Otieno (Programme officer CEJAD) The Kenya Girl Guides Association representative Presentation from Dr. Ayub Macharia (NEMA Kenya)
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Under this program, CEJAD aims to eliminate the risk posed by exposure to lead in paints to women and children, and improve the regulatory frameworks to phase out lead in paint at national, regional and international level.

Our work under this program aims to promote the phase out of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) from use, especially in agriculture to protect human health and the environment. The use of HHPs is threatening the lives of vulnerable populations, food systems, biodiversity and the environment at large.

Our work under the Mercury Program aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding global treaty adopted in 2013. Kenya is a party to the Minamata Convention.

The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, protects the ozone layer by regulating ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). It mandates the phase-out of CFC and HCFC production and consumption with specific timeframes for different Parties, based on their status as a developed or developing country.

Our work under this program aims to reduce the health and environmental impacts associated with waste and plastics throughout their life cycle. Over the years, plastic and plastic products have emerged as problematic and hazardous to human health and the environment.