RGR supporting East Africans in improving waste management

Ray Georgeson joined delegates from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in an East African conference to discuss opportunities to improve waste management practices in the region.  The event, held in Nairobi on 10-11th February heard keynote presentations from senior officials in the Kenyan Environment Ministry and Kenyan National Environmental Management Association and from a number of major private sector companies and municipalities.

Ray delivered a presentation on resource efficiency improvements in the UK and Europe, and facilitated workshops looking at basic waste management planning, waste minimisation and how to engage stakeholders and employees in the behaviour change needed to improve waste management and recycling.

Ray commented: "While the problems of lack of enforcement of existing regulations and the lack of sufficient basic infrastructure for the safe management of waste and resources are huge issues in East Africa, what was clear from this international event was the extent to which there is a great desire to change.  Political leadership, investment and skills transfer are certainly needed to improve basic waste management, but there is little we can teach the resourceful people of East Africa about the value and marketability of recyclables  - although there is much to do to improve public awareness and behaviour change."

Ray being presented by Mr Simon Munywe with a bag made from recycled plastic bags and made by the social enterprise Kayole Environment Management Association