A solid waste treatment plant is operational in Kajiado, one of Kenya’s 47 counties. The facility was commissioned by Petco Kenya on 8 December 2020. The company, which specialises in recycling plastic bottles and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products, financed the construction of the plant with 50 million Kenyan shillings, or about $448,000.
The processing plant handles PET bottles and products. It is the first facility of its kind built in this county in southwest Kenya. The initiative of the government of Kajiado and the cooperative society Taka Taka ni Mali will improve the collection and recycling of solid waste. It will also promote the development of a circular economy in this East African country.
Improving the livelihoods of waste pickers
The Kajiado centre has facilities for sorting and recycling solid waste. The plant will be capable of processing 10 tonnes of waste per day. This will also improve the livelihoods of waste collectors in Kajiado County. A total of 100 jobs will be created for the collection and control of equipment that transforms plastic waste into granules.
Petco Kenya’s ambition is to rid Kenya of plastic waste through treatment and processing centres. The company is supported by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, the subsidiary of soft drinks giant Coca-Cola; Kevian Kenya, Unilever Kenya and Naivas. These major users of plastics are also committed to the fight against plastic pollution. The Dutch-British multinational Unilever, for example, launched its first plastic packaging made from 100% recycled malleable materials in the capital Nairobi in February 2020. An initiative that will reduce the use of thousands of tonnes of virgin plastic each year in Africa.
Inès Magoum