The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued fresh guidelines for waste management, announcing directives on the classification of waste bags.
NEMA in a notice on Wednesday, August 7,2024 outlined the national color-coding scheme for waste segregation aimed at managing different types of garbage.
“The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is established under the Environment Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) No. 9 of 1999 to exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the Environment and to be the principal instrument of the Government of Kenya in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment,” read part of the notice.
“To ensure all public and private sector entities segregate the non- hazardous waste into organic and inorganic fractions, NEMA has come up with a proposed National color-coding system.”
The Authority argued that Section 12 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act requires the Cabinet Secretary in consultation with the Authority and County Governments to Gazette the National Color-Coding System for waste management.
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NEMA Outlines Color Codes for Waste Bags
In this effect, NEMA has directed that organic waste to be disposed in green bags, recyclable waste in blue bags while and black bags shall be used for disposal of general waste.
The new guidelines come after NEMA in July issued a deadline on the ban of plastic garbage bags in Kenya.
The Authority in a statement on July 8 directed that within a period of three months from July 8, 2024, citizens should ensure environmentally sound management of the organic waste fraction.
NEMA cited an earlier ban by the government (through the CS of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources) in 2017 vide Gazette notice Nos. 2334 & 2356 on the manufacture, importation and use of plastic carrier bags and flat bags used for commercial and household packaging.
“The Authority hereby directs that within 90 days from the date of this notice, all organic waste generated by households, private sector and public sector institutions, religious institutions, private and public functions and events; shall strictly be segregated and placed in 100% biodegradable garbage bags/bin liners only,” reads the statement in part.
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NEMA Bans Use of Plastic Garbage Bags
NEMA had in April banned the use of plastic garbage bags in Kenya saying that the prohibition was in compliance with section 12 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022 which requires that all public and private sector entities segregate non-hazardous waste into organic and non-organic fractions.
Further, NEMA instructed that the waste collected in biodegradable bags shall be collected separately (not mixed with other waste types) and transported to a designated Material Recovery Facility for further processing.
“The use of conventional plastic bags/ bin liners for collection of organic waste shall thus cease forthwith,” the statement further read.
The authority also directed all the county governments and private sector to provide Kenyans with 100 percent biodegradable garbage bags.
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