Plastic waste management and recycling in Mombasa, Kenya

The report examines the plastic recycling ecosystem in Mombasa, Kenya, identifying a value chain that ranges from informal waste pickers to formal converters. While PET, HDPE, and PVC are recycled, other polymers like LDPE and polystyrene largely end up as litter. The study highlights significant barriers to a circular economy, including high licensing costs, poor working conditions for marginalized collectors, and a lack of designated recycling infrastructure. It emphasizes the potential of upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to transform the sector and recommends implementing waste segregation at the source and providing financial incentives for recyclers.

• The primary plastic polymers recovered for recycling in Mombasa are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, and polystyrene are generally not recycled and contribute to environmental litter.
• The plastic recycling value chain in Mombasa is structured into three levels of value addition: Category I (flaking and shredding), Category II (semi-processing into finer particles), and converters who manufacture finished products.
• Recycling activities are often hampered by high operational costs and a lack of infrastructure, with some investors facing licensing and permit costs of approximately KES 250,000 (USD 2,500) for Category I value addition.
• Waste collectors, particularly informal pickers and community groups, face severe social and occupational challenges, including social marginalization, exploitation through unstable pricing, child labour, and exposure to hazardous materials and wildlife.
• Kenya's regulatory landscape includes a 2017 ban on plastic carrier bags and a ban on single-use plastics in protected areas, with upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations expected to shift the burden of waste management to producers.
• The recycling sector suffers from a lack of quality control due to contamination from organic waste and the use of non-recyclable adhesives and foils in product branding, which reduces the value of the final recycled product.
• Only a small fraction of plastic waste in Kenya is recycled, estimated at 7% of the 503,000 tons of plastic waste generated nationally.
• Industry-led initiatives like PETCO provide subsidies to recyclers and establish drop-off points to increase the collection of PET packaging, involving approximately 16 manufacturers who control about 60% of Kenya's beverage sector.

APA

Njoroge, G., Nikam, J., & Ddiba, D. (2022). Plastic waste management and recycling in Mombasa, Kenya. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/plasticwastemanagementmombasa-sei2022.013.pdf

Chicago

Njoroge, George, Jaee Nikam, and Daniel Ddiba. Plastic waste management and recycling in Mombasa, Kenya. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/plasticwastemanagementmombasa-sei2022.013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Njoroge |first1=George |last2=Nikam |first2=Jaee |last3=Ddiba |first3=Daniel |title=Plastic waste management and recycling in Mombasa, Kenya |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=April 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/plasticwastemanagementmombasa-sei2022.013.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{njoroge2022plastic, author = {Njoroge, George and Nikam, Jaee and Ddiba, Daniel}, title = {{Plastic waste management and recycling in Mombasa, Kenya}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/plasticwastemanagementmombasa-sei2022.013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }