Assessment of plastic waste management: a case of Nairobi City, Kenya

Municipal solid waste generation has increased in Nairobi city as a result of the city's fast population growth, creating issues for waste management and disposal. With a focus on plastic waste that is generated in Nairobi City, this study was conducted to assess and describe municipal solid waste. The study focused on tracking on how plastic waste is managed from the point of generation, transportation and ultimately where it ends up. Data was collected through primary data where waste sampling and characterization was carried out the Dandora dumpsite for a period of one week. The study indicated that waste dumped at the Dandora dumpsite constitutes waste from domestic, commercial and institutional. Waste constituted of organic waste 46±4.3%, plastic 11±1.0%, paper and cardboard 10±2.1%, metal 1±0.2%, glass 5±1.3% and others 27±2.9%. Secondary data was also used from various sources to track the trend in waste management within Nairobi city. In addition, net carbon emission of plastic waste was also determined considering one of the actions included in the Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan 2018-2022 is the cutting back on waste's emissions of greenhouse gases disposal systems. This study evaluated emissions from plastic waste management covering transportation, disposal and management of plastic waste in Nairobi city. This evaluation found that net carbon emissions be 16,524.28 tons CO2-eq./year. Estimations show that landfilling and illegal dumping of plastic material as a key source of greenhouse gas with carbon emission of 73,040.88 tons CO2-eq./year and carbon reduction of 56,516.6 tons CO2-eq./year through recycling. The study shows that managing of plastic waste by non-sanitary landfilling should be a last resort in Nairobi City.