Mike Sonko: County to put up recycling plant at Dandora dumpsite

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has said that plans are underway to install a recycling plant at the Dandora dumpsite to address the garbage problem in the city.

Sonko said the recycling plant would be procured through public-private partnership and later awarded to a company to manage it in strict conformity to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

DANDORA DUMPSITE

“My government is working on the installation of a giant recycling plant at Dandora dumpsite. Once complete the recycling plant shall address the garbage dumping challenge we are currently facing in Nairobi,” Sonko said on Sunday on his social media accounts.

He also said that his administration was working on amending Nairobi County’s waste management by-laws to include provisions on waste prevention, while also formulating and putting into action operational guidelines to support separation of waste at source in all parts of the city.

“To enhance the recovery of waste, we shall form and put into use formal structures for its engagement with community groups and other stakeholders in waste management and specifically those who recycle and re-use waste,” he said.

ILLEGAL DUMPING

The City Hall boss last month blamed increase in the number of illegal dumping in the capital on business owners in the hotel industry who engage street families to pick up garbage through the backdoors of their hotels at night and dump them along the lanes and open spaces within the CBD at small fee.

To rein in the practice, he said that he had authorised officers in the City Inspectorate Department to arrest those illegally dumping dumping waste, adding that the offence shall attract a fine of not less than Sh100,000.

“It is a collective responsibility as Nairobians to ensure our streets are clean and in order to stop such unauthorised dumping, I have authorised my inspectorate department to immediately arrest anyone found illegally dumping waste,” said Sonko.

CLEANER NAIROBI

He also said that the county would seek the support of public sector stakeholders such as chiefs and district officers in waste management.

The county would also partner with existing community initiatives such as Constituency Development Fund Committees and other the community-based programmes in raising public awareness and participation in waste management, the governor added.

“We shall launch a sustained education and communication campaign on the importance of managing waste properly and its importance to health, the environment and cleanliness of the city, besides providing incentives to community groups and other organisations involved in recycling and re-use of waste,” he said.

CONSERVATION

Meanwhile, Governor Sonko announced that his administration will soon roll out projects focusing on environmental conservation such reduction in air pollution, environmentally-related diseases, increased tree cover, open spaces and general landscaping around the city.

“To achieve this, my administration is keen on a collaborative approach with other partners and governmental agencies to enforce laws and policies that will protect our environment,” he said.

 “Ultimately, a long-term solution will only be achieved through an integrated solid waste management strategy and I am happy to report that Nairobi City County Government will achieve this in under five years.”