Nairobi: Officials of the Homa Bay Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Network are advocating for improved government initiatives to streamline the recycling of plastic waste products as part of broader environmental conservation efforts. The officials, led by Willis Omulo and Helen Ouma, emphasized the necessity of establishing centralized plastics dumping sites. This initiative aims to facilitate easier collection and recycling while creating job opportunities for the youth in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, Omulo highlighted the importance of setting aside designated areas for plastic waste disposal in each municipality within Homa Bay County. He stressed that creating a central dumping site in each municipality would simplify access for those interested in recycling plastic waste. Omulo pointed out that while many young people are eager to recycle plastic into useful products, they face challenges in accessing the necessary materials. Centralizing dumping sites would alleviate this issue and pot
entially lead to job creation.
‘We want the dumping sites to be centralized. This will enable our young people to recycle them, leading to job creation,’ Omulo stated during a press briefing in Homa Bay town.
Helen Ouma echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the detrimental impact of improper plastic waste disposal, such as burning or soil dumping. She argued that properly designated plastic dumping sites would enhance job creation through recycling initiatives. Ouma expressed concerns about the widespread plastic pollution in Homa Bay County, particularly its negative effects on Lake Victoria’s ecosystem and fish populations.
‘Plastics interfere with fish breeding zones in the lake due to pollution and this has negatively impacted on fish population,’ Ouma remarked. She called on environmental stakeholders to implement measures to combat plastic pollution and urged companies that package goods in plastics to strategize for proper disposal.
Ouma also appealed to the residents of Homa Bay County to actively
participate in environmental conservation efforts by refraining from careless plastic disposal. ‘We appeal to residents of this county to avoid discarding plastic haphazardly. Let everyone know that environmental conservation is a role of everyone,’ she said.