To beat plastic pollution, we should re-cycle plastic waste when possible, avoid single-use plastics, use alternative packaging

Governor Wilber Ottichilo with a community member from Kibiri forest during the 2021 World Environment day celebration in June

Among other provisions, the Policy prioritizes recycling of solid wastes, calls for Public-Private Partnerships in waste management and embraces the principles of sustainable waste management. In addition, the Vihiga County Solid Waste Management Strategy presents the specific actions to be undertaken to attain the policy aspirations.

Through partnership with the World Bank under the Kenya Urban Support Program, the County has acquired modern equipment and motor vehicles for waste management. We have also Purchased over 10 acres of land in Luanda sub county for the establishment of a modern waste management and recycling facility

Since the 1950s, the production of plastic increased exponentially because of its low cost. The World Bank reports that by 2050, the world is expected to generate 3.40 billion tonnes of waste annually, an increase from today's 2.01 billion tonnes. Vihiga county is putting in place mechanisms to effectively manage her solid wastes. This is despite the challenges of resource gaps that are required to put in place the requisite waste management infrastructure.

Public Private Partnerships and innovations in waste management as espoused by The Vihiga County Waste Management Policy and Strategy shall go a long way in addressing the financing gaps. The waste sector provides opportunities for green jobs especially in recycling, which our young people can tap into. In order to enable recycling, the county is set to commence segregation of wastes at sources, collection and management.

In addition, regular clean-up activities and awareness campaigns go a long way in addressing waste management challenges in Vihiga.

Awareness Campaigns

The County government of Vihiga shall step up awareness campaigns that will largely target the reduction of plastic waste within the environment, illegal dumping, litter prevention, recycling, environmental education and public spaces clean-up activities. A county level waste management governance structure comprising of a CECM designated for Waste Management, a Chief Officer, a Director and County level officers, supported by Sub County and Market waste management supervisors enable effective collection, transportation and management of waste in Vihiga.

Newly delivered skips for use by Vihiga County Government.

This includes; budgetary allocation every financial year that has facilitated acquisition of 10-acre land for solid waste disposal and recycling, acquisition of waste skips for waste collection in markets and acquisition of Waste Management Vehicles and equipment with support from KUSP.

However, the County Government has set up solid institutional and legal framework to manage plastic pollution through models of circular economy, waste to energy concept involving informal/private sector in the County's plastic waste management. Among the policies and planning documents developed by the department of Water, Environment, Energy and Natural resources include; County Environment Action Plan (CEAP); Waste Management Policy (WMP) and Waste Management Strategy (WMS).