The Challenge of Solid Waste Management g in Kisumu, Kenya: y Need for a Paradigm Shift

Gerryshom MUNALA Graz Universityy of Technology, gy Austria

Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Context, Kisumu Area = 297 km2 Pop. ≈ 500 000 >60 % live in informal settlements Bandani Pop. Size ≈ 48,100 Density – 1,070

Manyatta “B” Pop. Size ≈25,700 Density – 6,400

Planned settlements ttl t

Kachok dumpsite Kisumu Position: 000 06’ S 340 45’ E

Nyalenda y “B” Pop. Size ≈37,500 Density – 4,200

Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Solid waste situation • Generation: > 400 tonnes per day • Collection efficiency: approx. 20 % (80 tonnes d li delivered d tto d dumpsite) it ) – 10 % private and 10% council collection

• 60 – 65 % organic in character • Most affected areas are informal settlements – expanding at 6 – 12 % annually Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Informal settlement profile Densely populated Unplanned p structures Squalid settlements

High incidences of diseases High level of poverty Congested environment Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Collectors Private trucks •open, overloading

Council trucks •open

Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Role of private collectors • Gap – fillers – response to demand

• Pioneers – innovative technologies and solutions

• Sub-concessionaires Sub concessionaires – scavenging for material for other industries

• Managers and initiators – viable solutions at small scale level

• S Small-scale, ll l individualistic, i di id li ti weary off competition, difficult to up-scale Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Council dumpsite Kisumu’s kachok dumpsite p Approx. 2 km from town centre

Approx. 3 acres Open p dumping p g not a landfill Already full Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Disposal practices • Open burning – domestic wastes

• Incineration – especially medical waste

• Open dumping – council using entirely open dumping

• Recycling • Composting • Domestic pits/dumps Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Compost with plastic matter

Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Polythene town … Dumped plastics in residential areas

Plastics Pl ti on th their i way to the lake Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Waste collection methods • Door - to - door type Household

• Station type

Household

Truck collection and transport

Neighbourhood depository and accumulation site

Dumpsite

Truck collection and transport

Dumpsite

Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Solid waste challenge • • • •

Litter and dust control Plastics blown about g results to smoke and odour Burning Dumpsite home to: – human scavengers – birds/animal scavengers

• No pest control – breeding ground of pests

• Lake/river L k /i pollution ll i Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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New management approaches • New technologies – waste disposal techniques

• Social attitude change – sorting at source – minimization

• Waste W t as an economic i resources – recycle – re-use

• Legal framework Generally, waste is a useful by-product at the wrong place or state Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Integrated approach

Waste minimization SOCIAL

Waste recycle/reuse

ECONOMIC

Waste disposal TECHNOLOGY

Re-thinking LEGAL FRAMEWORKS

Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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Conclusion • Minimization – reduce d waste t production/generation d ti / ti

• Recycle/reuse – reprocessing i – reduction of amount of new products – recovery e.g. e g anaerobic digestion

• Disposal – better technologies

• Re-thinking – revise i th the llaws – encourage partnerships Water Resources Conservancy and Risk Reduction Under Climatic Instability

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