Producers have been requested by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to improve the intergeneration of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Environmental Audit (EA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes.
According to NEMA, this is an important step towards guaranteeing comprehensive environmental stewardship.
The Sustainable Waste Management Act, which went into force on July 22, 2022, states as much.
According to Section 13 of this Act, all producers must voluntarily share the environmental risk and pollution associated with new products that are brought into the Kenyan market, as well as any waste that results from them.
Each producer is required to fulfil its EPR obligations individually or collectively in a compliance scheme, according to Section 13(2).
The necessity of producers engaging proactively to fully address the environmental effects of their products over the course of their lifecycle is highlighted by this regulatory system.
In order to reduce environmental risks associated with their products throughout the post-consumer phase, businesses will be forced to carry out extensive assessments and implement initiatives.
“To this end, the Authority (NEMA) is seeking your esteemed expertise to enhance the integration of EPR obligations within both EIA and EA Reports with regard to institutional and post-consumer waste management. Our collective aim is to seamlessly embed EPR considerations within these reports, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts associated with the lifecycle of the proponent’s products and waste arising therefrom,” said NEMA.
“Take note, therefore, that you are expected to integrate EPR in EIA and EA reports henceforth. Further information on EPR implementation is available on NEMA website,” NEMA added.
