International Day of Zero Waste 2025: How Small Businesses in Kenya Are Reducing Waste
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is the International Day of Zero Waste?
- Waste Management in Kenya
- The Role of Micro-Retailers in Circularity Initiatives
- How Kenyan Duka Owners Are Getting Involved
- Becoming Champions for the Circular Economy in Kenya
- Economically Empowering Women and Youth through Waste Management
- Want to learn more?
Micro-retailers have become an important part of Nairobi’s circular economy—and champions for recycling.
Small businesses can have a big impact on the environment. As the world marks the International Day of Zero Waste, we are celebrating Kenyan micro-retailers who are creating change in their community through the circular economy.
What is the International Day of Zero Waste?
In 2022, the United Nations declared March 30th the International Day of Zero Waste, making it one of the newest officially recognized global observances. The designation is designed to drive action and partnerships to promote waste management and the circular economy. It closely supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Waste Management in Kenya
According to the World Bank’s What a Waste 2.0 report, the world generates over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33% of that not being managed in an environmentally safe manner. The report further projects that as global populations grow and the world increasingly urbanizes, this will push global waste to a staggering 3.4 billion tonnes of waste generated annually.
Many countries like Kenya are rapidly developing without proper systems in place to manage their waste. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)—the Kenyan government agency responsible for managing the environment and implementing environmental policies—estimates that Kenya generates eight million tons of waste annually. It also estimates that 62% of the waste generated in the city of Nairobi is incinerated or disposed of in illegal dumpsites, along the side of the road, or in waterways, contributing to pollution.
The Role of Micro-Retailers in Circularity Initiatives
The retail industry is one of the largest waste contributors. With micro-retailers—including the duka owners—making up over 70% of the sector, they are a critical focus for circularity initiatives and effective waste management efforts.
Since 2015, the Smart Duka Initiative has provided business and market linkage support to over 50,000 micro-retailers in Kenya. In 2023, the Smart Duka Initiative integrated waste management into its interventions, developing a micro-retail waste management module and a micro-retail strategy incorporating duka owners into the waste value chain.
How Kenyan Duka Owners Are Getting Involved
In 2024, the Smart Duka Initiative partnered with recycling businesses Takataka ni mali and Mr. Green Africa to support duka owners with business solutions and practical waste management strategies. As part of this effort, 600 duka owners have been trained in waste management practices and integrated into the waste value chain, enabling them to serve as waste collectors and aggregators within their communities. They were trained on waste segregation, proper waste storage, and its disposal.
The intervention led to the development of a waste aggregation model that integrated micro-retailers into the waste value chain through Smart Duka business groups in the Huruma, Mathare, and Umoja regions in Nairobi. As a result, 264 micro-retailers participated as waste aggregators, collectively aggregating 8 tons of plastic and cardboard waste between June 2024 to November 2024.
Becoming Champions for the Circular Economy in Kenya
Samuel Okwemba, a duka owner in Nairobi who has been in business for six years, participated in a waste management training from TechoServe in 2024. Before taking the training, Samuel was not aware that the waste he was disposing of had the potential to generate income.
“I didn’t know I was throwing away money,” Samuel shared. “Through the Smart Duka training, I learned to correctly segregate waste, sell it to a recycler, and get an extra coin that went to expanding my business.”
His duka primarily generates cardboard, plastic bottles, and paper waste, which recyclers find valuable. Samuel is using the knowledge and skills gained from the training to become a waste recycling champion in his community. His buyback option for his customers is bringing him more customers than before.
“When I sell soda, for example, I usually request the customer to return the plastic bottle, which I buy from them. This has made my shop a favorite of many customers who like this buy back initiative.”
Samuel has been championing for more duka owners in his region to become waste recyclers by training them on how to segregate waste. Although some complain they lack storage space to store the waste, Samuel advises them to use his leased storage space.
Economically Empowering Women and Youth through Waste Management
Damaris Wambua has run a duka for eight years. Inspired by the opportunity to improve the environment, she participated in the waste management training. Now, she is empowering women in her social groups to participate in the circular economy. She has created work for women who were not employed, paying them for the waste they collect. “Now they have something to put on the table,” she said. “They are getting some income from this waste management.”
Daniel Musili, who has run a micro-retail business in Mathare North for more than 25 years, also participated in the waste management training. Before, Daniel would dispose of waste generated from his duka in the waste collection points in the neighborhood. Since the training, he has been working with young people in his waste collection work..
“I have become known in the neighborhood as the waste collector,” he said. “[Community members] store empty boxes and plastics for me to pick them up. I keep encouraging them to do this as it keeps our neighborhood clean.”
As the world marks International Day of Zero Waste, entrepreneurs like Samuel, Damaris, and Daniel show how circularity initiatives can deliver environmental and economic benefits.
FAQs
Want to learn more?
Why is recycling important for small businesses in Kenya?
Recycling helps micro-retailers reduce waste, generate extra income, and build sustainable communities.
How does TechnoServe support waste management in Kenya?
Through the Smart Duka Initiative, TechnoServe trains duka owners in sustainable waste practices and links them to the recycling value chain.
What are circularity initiatives in Africa?
These are community-led efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials, often led by entrepreneurs or small businesses.
