Innovations in plastic waste management in Kenya and the role of Universities. by Leah Oyake-Ombis (PhD)

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1 Innovations in plastic waste management in Kenya and the role of Universities by Leah Oyake-Ombis (PhD) 30th March, 2016

2 Presentation outline Introduction Existing situation for solid waste management Some of the informal & formal initiatives for plastic waste management Objectives of the Research undertaken Scope of the study Methods & data used Analysis of the innovations Results Innovations fostering interaction betwn SWMS & PPS Role of Universities Conclusion

3 Introduction Plastics are seen as one of the most important technical achievements of the 20th Century Globally, over 260 million tons of plastics are produced every year, accounting for about 8 per cent of the world s oil production Nearly one trillion plastic bags are produced and used globally per annum, making the packaging sector the most important user of plastic materials More than half of these plastic bags end up in urban waste streams, where they constitute between 5% and 10% of the solid waste stream, Kenyan cities alike

4 Introduction While developed countries cities have made great progress in management of plastic waste, the situation is different in African cities in general and Kenya in particular Efforts towards plastic waste management have either evolved around waste management systems or limited to plastic production system by private actors Such efforts have also been narrow in scope since they have evolved around mainstream actors of either SWM system or plastic production system

5 Existing situation for waste Access to adequate waste collection and sanitation is still very low and plastic waste is a common feature at the disposal sites and other open places within Kenyan cities Plastic wastes are an eyesore within the informal settlements, compromise the aesthetic quality of cities, block open drains and gutters, cause stagnation of water and cause deaths among animals and livestock management

6 Some of the informal and formal initiatives for plastic waste management Despite the appalling situation of plastic waste in Kenya s major cities, there are practices and activities of informal actors (CBOs, CBO-SACCOs and yard shop operators) and other formal industrial actors on plastic waste collection, recycling and prevention. Practices and activities of these actor groups are viewed as innovations with the potential to change the way plastic waste is handled. Furthermore, they may stand out as the cornerstones to foster collaboration between SWM system and plastic production system

7 Objectives of this Research The central aim of this research was to analyse the innovation activities on collection, prevention and recycling of plastic waste in the urban centres of Kenya by addressing the following research questions:- How are the solid waste management system and the plastic production system organized in Kenya? How and to what extent do current and can potential future environmental innovations contribute to the overall management and prevention of plastic waste in Kenya? Which current and potential environmental innovations foster the interaction between SWM and plastic production systems and what insights can be gained from such innovations for building an integrated regime for plastic waste management?

8 Scope of Study

9 Methods and Data A case study approach was used. Different data sources were used to provide varied information relating to the two systems and innovation activities:- Document review of secondary data on the solid waste management system and the plastic production system Interviews with representatives of innovation categories; NGOs, Governmental agencies HH questionnaire, sales records, statistical data and observations

10 Analysis of Innovations The study adopted a Multilevel perspective to transition using Strategic Niche Management (Actor network building; Actor expectation and Actor learning processes) as a tool to analyze the innovations Therefore relative success and/or failure of each innovation case is explained based on the continuity of dealing with significant amounts of plastic waste and the ability to influence changes at the regime level

11 Results: Organization of SWM and PP systems The Organization of SWM confirms a general lack of urgency for support of innovative activities that can eradicate plastic waste from the environment. The plastic production system has over the years benefitted from the industrial policies that continue to support the ever increasing local, regional and international demand for plastic products. Such demands have resulted into different recycling trajectories for recycling of commingled plastic waste to the separated collection and treatment of specific wastes (like packaging plastics at supermarkets or the collection of PET materials and subsequent export to China).

12 Results: Innovations contribution to Plastic waste Management The seven studied niche innovations cases were grouped into three categories depending on their contribution to overall management or prevention of plastic waste in Kenya:- Yard shop owners and conventional plastic industries are considered relatively successful niche formations. For yard shop owners, Majority handled 1000kg of plastic waste per week, have direct links with PPS, displayed high degree of convergence of expectations and strong and focused economic networks. For conventional recycling industries, they have broad better formalized network of actors, high degree of convergence and most active learning process, formally recognized among policy actors with profitable economic motives to ensure continuity.

13 Results: Innovations contribution to Plastic waste Management CBOs, CBO-SACCOs, and home-grown recycling industries are considered not very successful niche developments:- For CBOs and CBO-SACCOs, some degree of first order learning, but such learning processes are poorly institutionalized. Consist of fairly small networks that are quite homogenous and does not stretch out making niche innovations quite vulnerable Social rather than economic motives are the main goal For Home-grown industries, there is limited supply of clean and up-graded plastic waste, thus failure to fulfill market expectations.

14 Results: Innovations contribution to Plastic waste Management Bio-plastics substitution and export of semiprocessed plastic waste are considered failed niche developments. For bio-plastic substitution, there is poor convergence of expectation amongst the limited number but potentially wide political and economic network actors; Hardly any learning took place beyond the only company involved in production; Export of semi-processed plastic waste, little learning and dissemination of product conditions and export market took place. Among the few actors, expectations did not really converge that it is a major route for management of plastic waste.

15 Innovations fostering Interaction Having assessed the seven niche innovations, they show a meagre ability to foster integration

16 The role of Universities Universities should be viewed as part of any system that would want to be on the path to sustainability; It is at the Universities and other research institutions that niches that can change regimes are incubated as part of research; Societal development can only be achieved if there is dynamic interplay between developments in social, economic, institutions, technical and cultural domains; Through different research approaches, governance principles, methods and tools to deal with complex societal problems are generated; Findings of different researches at the Universities can bring about transitions or change to existing systems that are not delivering.

17 Conclusion The study concludes that, a number of innovations still need to take place in order to stimulate the building of an integrated regime for plastic waste management in Kenya and therefore, the study makes the following policy recommendations:- City/urban authorities need to develop a framework of engagement with informal waste management actors within their jurisdictions. There is need for County Governments to develop policies that take cognizance of the differentiated plastic recycling trajectories. Future City/urban waste management strategies should include waste separation at source to ensure that actors within the recycling chain are guaranteed of less contaminated plastic waste.

18 Thank you