Kenya stands at a pivotal moment in its waste management journey with the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This policy is set to transform how products are managed at the end of their life cycle. By requiring producers to present their EPR plans, regulators are ushering in a more sustainable and accountable approach to waste management.

EPR shifts the responsibility of waste disposal from municipalities and taxpayers to producers, holding them accountable for the environmental impacts of their products. This encourages innovation in product design, investment in recycling infrastructure, and stronger consumer awareness. While the transition introduces compliance costs and logistical challenges, it also opens the door to collaboration and long-term environmental and economic gains.

A critical factor in this shift is ensuring inclusivity. Kenya’s informal waste sector—comprising waste pickers, small-scale recyclers, and grassroots entrepreneurs—plays an indispensable role in the recycling ecosystem. They are the backbone of waste recovery, preventing valuable materials from ending up in landfills while generating income that sustains thousands of families.

However, without proper recognition and support, these workers risk being sidelined by formal EPR systems. Protecting their livelihoods requires deliberate inclusion, fair compensation frameworks, access to training, and opportunities for integration into formal waste management structures. Transparent mechanisms for fund allocation, monitoring, and reporting will also be essential to ensure accountability and equitable benefit-sharing.

At the same time, the formal private sector deserves recognition for its investments, technology, and expertise, which provide the infrastructure that supports both formal and informal recycling activities. Strong partnerships between formal businesses and informal workers will be critical in building a resilient, efficient, and sustainable waste management ecosystem.

As Kenya embraces EPR, the way forward must be one that values every player in the chain. By ensuring that the informal sector is empowered rather than excluded, and by strengthening collaboration across stakeholders, Kenya has the opportunity to create a waste management system that is not only sustainable but also inclusive and socially just.