NAIROBI, Kenya – A significant majority of Kenyan households continue to dispose of their waste through open burning, a practice that poses severe health and environmental risks, according to a recent report by a global safety charity.
The report, titled “A World of Waste: Risks and Opportunities in Household Waste Management,” reveals that 54 percent of Kenyan families resort to burning their waste, despite stringent laws prohibiting the practice in certain regions.
The report, produced in collaboration with experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights the alarming prevalence of open burning as a method of waste disposal in Kenya.
Globally, 14 percent of households engage in this hazardous practice, but the percentage is notably higher in Kenya, underscoring the urgent need for better waste management infrastructure.
Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which contributed to the report, emphasized the risks associated with this practice.
“While residents of many countries benefit from safe and sustainable waste management infrastructure, in countries such as Kenya, the lack of viable alternatives means the uncontrolled disposal of household waste, including hazardous open burning, is high,” she said.
Experts warn that the open burning of waste releases harmful toxins, including black carbon, a significant contributor to global warming, and ‘forever chemicals,’ which persist in the environment indefinitely.
The report calls for urgent action to develop better waste collection and disposal systems to mitigate these risks.
In Kenya, open burning is illegal in areas such as Nairobi, where violators face fines of up to Sh500,000 or imprisonment for six months under the Nairobi City County Air Quality Act of 2021.
The law, sponsored by former South B MCA Waithera Chege, aims to curb air pollution and ensure safe waste disposal practices.
However, the widespread practice of open burning, even in areas where it is illegal, reflects the challenges faced by communities lacking access to proper waste management infrastructure.
Prof. Desta Mebratu, leader of Engineering X’s ‘Africa Roadmap for Transformative Action on Waste,’ noted, “Open burning is not a choice for many communities; it is a necessary step they must take due to a lack of infrastructure provided by their government.”
The findings from the World Risk Poll serve as a critical reminder to governments and stakeholders to prioritize the development of sustainable waste management solutions.
UNEP also stressed the dangers of uncontrolled burning, warning that it creates persistent organic pollutants that can severely damage human health and the environment.
The report, titled “A World of Waste: Risks and Opportunities in Household Waste Management,” reveals that 54 percent of Kenyan families resort to burning their waste, despite stringent laws prohibiting the practice in certain regions.
The report, produced in collaboration with experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights the alarming prevalence of open burning as a method of waste disposal in Kenya.
Globally, 14 percent of households engage in this hazardous practice, but the percentage is notably higher in Kenya, underscoring the urgent need for better waste management infrastructure.
Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which contributed to the report, emphasized the risks associated with this practice.
“While residents of many countries benefit from safe and sustainable waste management infrastructure, in countries such as Kenya, the lack of viable alternatives means the uncontrolled disposal of household waste, including hazardous open burning, is high,” she said.
Experts warn that the open burning of waste releases harmful toxins, including black carbon, a significant contributor to global warming, and ‘forever chemicals,’ which persist in the environment indefinitely.
The report calls for urgent action to develop better waste collection and disposal systems to mitigate these risks.
In Kenya, open burning is illegal in areas such as Nairobi, where violators face fines of up to Sh500,000 or imprisonment for six months under the Nairobi City County Air Quality Act of 2021.
The law, sponsored by former South B MCA Waithera Chege, aims to curb air pollution and ensure safe waste disposal practices.
However, the widespread practice of open burning, even in areas where it is illegal, reflects the challenges faced by communities lacking access to proper waste management infrastructure.
Prof. Desta Mebratu, leader of Engineering X’s ‘Africa Roadmap for Transformative Action on Waste,’ noted, “Open burning is not a choice for many communities; it is a necessary step they must take due to a lack of infrastructure provided by their government.”
The findings from the World Risk Poll serve as a critical reminder to governments and stakeholders to prioritize the development of sustainable waste management solutions.
UNEP also stressed the dangers of uncontrolled burning, warning that it creates persistent organic pollutants that can severely damage human health and the environment.
