Waste disposal and management in Africa. More than 238 million people are living on or around open dump sites. This results in the average life expectancy being just 35 years, as well as detrimental impacts on the environment through pollution and contamination. I want to find a solution that can provide a better quality of life to these people and a positive environmental impact without displacing or replacing them.

I will be specifically working on MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) management in Nakuru, Kenya. The goal is to find a new way of dealing with the waste, which is safe for the people, and can provide them with higher income whilst reducing the environmental impact.

Why Nakuru, Kenya?

Unfortunately you could start in any developing country, solving a problem as broad as solid waste management and open dumping. I picked Nakuru, Kenya as my place to start as it was the start to this whole project after a visit over the summer. It’s only fitting to try and solve the problem there first!

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Nakuru County is the third most populous county with a population of over 2.1 million. In 2017, an estimate by the World Bank reported that Nakuru County generates about 513 metric tons (565 tons) of waste daily. A great majority 80% of this waste is biodegradable, while 20% is non-biodegradable.

After spending 2 weeks working with children at 'The Walk Center’ and visiting the Hilton dump site just 5 minuets from the school, it was shocking to see what reality can look like for a family living on a dump. As soon as I left the dump site I started thinking; Why is this their life? Where is all the waste coming from? What can I do to help change this?

A photo I took on the Hilton Dump in Nakuru, Kenya

A photo I took on the Hilton Dump in Nakuru, Kenya

Click on the arrow to see the data behind these questions.