Kilifi County government has partnered with the World Bank to set up a waste processing plant in the region to curb the growing tonnes of garbage blamed on the rising population. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
According to Kilifi Environment, forestry and natural Resources executive Kiringi Mwachitu, the county is currently witnessing a rapid population growth especially in its major towns like Kilifi, Mtwapa, Malindi and Watamu.
The department has made several steps in making sure that the issue of poor garbage management is addressed once and for good.
“As the population grows and garbage continues to increase, we have plans as a department to build a recycling plant in Maindi that will be funded by the World Bank through the municipalities which will not only help in handling the waste crisis but also create job opportunities for our youths in the county ”. Mr. Mwachitu said.
The wastes processing plant according to Mr Mwachitu will be used as pilot once it’s functional.
“Once this project becomes functional, as a county we will replace this in most of the major towns, especially Kilifi, Mtwapa, Mariakani, and Kaloleni, this will reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the dumpsite. ”
Strategic Partnership
The department has also made several strides by purchasing two modern compactors and waste bins that have been stationed in strategic collection sites in the county s major towns.
The modern compactors carry fifty tonnes of wastes per day hence making the work easier through placing waste bins in several areas where residents throw their wastes for storage which is later carried to the dumpsites for shoveling.
Environment Chief Officer Mariam Jeneby said that compactors are more effective and modern adding that the level of cleanliness in the county is quite recommendable.
” Governor Amason Kingi bought us modern compactors, where by one can even carry three quarters of the waste in Kilifi, which has really relieved the burden of waste collection .We have also created a system to enhance the garbage collection exercise by dividing every compactor driver and his team their collection points to ensure smooth running,” she says.
”There’s a lot of scavengers who sell the metals to scrap dealers, and all our west bins from Mariakani to Marereni were stolen and some were burned. She emphasized that people should adhere to the rules or faces the penalties.”
Now the county has warned the residents to follow protocols when dumping waste or they will face the consequences.
The solid waste management act which was created in 2019, states that any person that is involved in illegal dumping amounts to a fine of two hundred thousand or imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both.
