Good waste management creates jobs, enhances public health

Garbage at City Market, Nairobi, on May 25, 2025. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Private involvement in national development drives inclusive economic growth, offering training and entrepreneurship opportunities that uplift communities while enhancing environmental outcomes. Such partnerships not only address municipal capacity gaps but also generate employment, according to UNDP. The private sector fosters job creation across the waste management value chain, from waste collectors to engineers.

Across Africa, the conversation around youth unemployment and environmental sustainability is more urgent than ever. As Kenya positions itself to take advantage of its demographic dividend, the country must look beyond traditional job creation models to sectors that align economic growth with environmental protection. One such sector is waste management,