The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has launched a campaign to eradicate plastic related materials in the environment. This was done on the launch of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sector group through a clean-up exercise of PET products last month at Uhuru Park, Nairobi. The group has gone on to partner with the government to start a recycling campaign as well as an advocacy.
According to Prof. Judi Wakhungu, Environment and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary, this is in line with the industry’s commitment to manage solid waste in the country. “Plastic related products are a common environmental menace and need to be removed from the environment.
Kenya is committed to honor global efforts towards the prevention, mitigation and management of air, water, soil and oceans pollution,” she added.
This initiative will also ensure that the industry works together with the government to bring about a sustainable solution for all parties. The PET sector group has adopted a model, which has, in the past, been successful for PETCO South Africa. The model runs an industry driven and financed environmental solution for post-consumer PET plastic thus giving a solution for post-consumer plastic packaging.
The industry, said Flora Mutahi, chairperson of KAM, embraces the circular economy concept and is looking out for various ways to support the creation of an effective after-use plastics economy. Packaging, she said, is integral to the delivery of safe, high-quality consumer products.
“We recognize the need to create new circular systems that conserve resources, reduce pollution and promote efficiency. I encourage Kenyans to embrace proper disposal habits, particularly of PET bottles, which are mainly littered along the roads, in water bodies and public areas. The clean-up exercise is one of the initiatives that we have put in place to mitigate the challenges that we face with waste management,” she added.
