Only 7% of Plastic Recycled by Kenyan Waste Pickers at Dandora
In Nairobi, Kenya, around 2,000 tonnes of waste are dumped daily at the Dandora landfill. Thousands of waste pickers work to recover recyclable materials despite health risks. However, only 7% of the plastic waste is successfully recycled, highlighting challenges in waste management and recycling efficiency in Kenya.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1)
Every day, about 2,000 tonnes of waste are dumped at Nairobi’s Dandora landfill site, where an army of Kenyan waste pickers rush in to recover recyclable materials.
These workers, often called unsung environmental heroes, put their health at significant risk as they sort through the waste without adequate protection or safety measures.
Despite their efforts, only 7 percent of the plastic waste at the site is recycled, underscoring the difficulties in effective recycling processes in Kenya.
This situation reflects broader challenges in waste management and environmental health in African urban centers, where informal recycling sectors play a critical role but face many hazards.