From city ‘Takataka’ to cheap, quality fertiliser

In 2004, Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) estimated that Nairobi produces about 2,400 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) daily. This generation stands at 4,398 tonnes per day in 2015 and is projected to hit 7,427 tonnes per day in 2030 based on population and economic growth trends.

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) determined that domestic waste contributes 68 per cent of the total waste generated in Nairobi. Of all this trash — both food and non-food — only 33 per cent is collected following disposal in a manner comparatively friendly to the environment.