In this article, Edward Kariuki, Group Water Treatment Engineer at Davis & Shirtliff, explores how Kenya can transform its growing waste crisis into an opportunity for economic and environmental renewal. Highlighting innovative wastewater technologies and sustainable waste management practices, he outlines a clear path toward a circular economy that safeguards health, conserves resources, and supports long-term development.
The dream of turning waste into ‘gold’ has remained largely unrealised in Kenya, leaving the country grappling with mounting waste, environmental pollution and health hazards.
Each Kenyan generates approximately half a kilogram of waste daily, amounting to eight million tonnes annually. Yet, only 38 per cent of this waste is collected, with less than 10 per cent recycled.
The rest clogs drainage systems, pollutes water bodies, and leads to severe health crises. According to the UN Environment Programme, contaminated water accounts for over half of the world’s hospital admissions.
A UN report highlights that 90 per cent of wastewater in developing countries—including most African nations—is discharged untreated into rivers, lakes, or oceans. This contamination disrupts fisheries, livelihoods and ecosystems.
In Kenya, poor access to clean water significantly contributes to disease burdens and mortality rates. With rapid urbanisation and a growing population, the demand for water will only increase, making effective wastewater management an urgent necessity.
Fortunately, modern technology offers solutions for treating and repurposing wastewater to ensure sustainability and environmental conservation. Instead of merely disposing of wastewater, innovations are transforming it into valuable resources.
Bioremediation solutions such as constructed wetlands and plant-based filtration systems naturally break down pollutants, providing an eco-friendly way to clean water. Ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis remove even the smallest contaminants, including microplastics and heavy metals.
Electrochemical treatments use electricity instead of chemicals to purify water, while advanced oxidation processes break down persistent pollutants such as pharmaceutical waste and pesticides. Modern treatment facilities now extract valuable nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus for use as fertilizers and even generate energy from organic waste.
Kenya has a golden opportunity to address its waste management challenges. Sustainable practices could rejuvenate the economy by creating jobs in waste collection, sorting, and recycling, particularly for informal waste pickers. Proper waste management would also curb pollution, conserve valuable resources and improve public health by reducing exposure to hazardous materials.
Phytoremediation utilizes plants and microbes to absorb toxins, offering a natural method for treating wastewater. Biological nutrient removal eliminates excess nitrogen and phosphorus, preventing harmful algal blooms in lakes and rivers. Enhanced phosphorus removal further refines this process, capturing phosphorus from wastewater to be repurposed as fertilizer, reducing pollution while supporting agriculture.
Different wastewater treatment technologies vary in efficiency, cost and applicability. Traditional activated sludge treatment is reliable but less effective at removing certain pollutants. Membrane bioreactors are highly efficient and produce reusable water but require significant investment in maintenance and energy consumption.
Anaerobic digestion effectively treats organic waste while generating biogas, whereas constructed wetlands provide an eco-friendly alternative but require substantial land space and longer processing times. Advanced oxidation processes are highly effective but energy-intensive, while electrochemical treatments remove metals and salts but come with high energy costs.
Beyond environmental conservation, proper wastewater management plays a crucial role in economic growth. It prevents pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans, safeguarding aquatic ecosystems. By ensuring safe water, communities experience fewer disease outbreaks, lowering healthcare costs and improving quality of life. Some treatment processes also mitigate climate change by capturing methane emissions and converting them into renewable energy.
Treating and reusing wastewater reduces dependency on freshwater sources, a critical advantage for drought-prone areas. Modern treatment plants can even turn waste into wealth by recovering nutrients, metals and energy, creating economic opportunities while reducing reliance on virgin resources.
However, water is just one part of the larger waste management puzzle. Effective handling of solid waste is equally crucial in promoting sustainability and resource conservation. Both wastewater and solid waste, if properly managed, can minimize environmental impact and contribute to a circular economy.
Kenya’s private sector is already taking steps toward responsible waste management. Davis & Shirtliff Kenya, for instance, generates 492 tonnes of packaging waste annually, primarily consisting of cartons, plastic, polythene, woven bags and polystyrene. The company sorts packaging materials into recyclable and non-recyclable categories, ensuring clear segregation. Compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility regulations is maintained through partnerships with organizations such as PAKPRO, an industry-driven and financed producer responsibility organization that collaborates with waste collectors and recyclers to manage post-consumer waste.
Waste segregation plays a key role in sustainable waste management. Separating recyclables, organic waste, and non-recyclables significantly reduces landfill waste, preventing soil and groundwater contamination while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Efficient waste segregation ensures materials such as paper, glass, metals, and plastics are repurposed rather than discarded. Composting organic waste further enhances soil quality and reduces landfill contributions. Proper segregation ensures that waste is sent to the correct disposal facilities, reducing costs and environmental impact.
Kenya should embrace technology-driven solutions to transform waste into economic and environmental opportunities. Investing in modern wastewater treatment, responsible waste management policies, and circular economy initiatives, the country can create a more sustainable future that benefits both people and the planet.
