Kenya Urged to Adopt Bold Refill and Reuse Targets to
Combat Single‑Use Plastics
Nairobi, Kenya – Environmental advocates are calling on the Kenyan
government to set ambitious national targets for refill and reuse systems as
part of efforts to curb the growing crisis of single‑use plastics. The appeal
was made during the launch of the first‑ever Refill and Reuse Festival,
hosted at the National Museums of Kenya by Greenpeace Africa.
Hellen Kahaso Dena, who leads the
Pan African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, emphasized that refill and
reuse practices are deeply rooted in African traditions but have been
overshadowed by the rise of disposable plastic packaging. She argued that
investing in refill infrastructure would not only reduce pollution but also
generate employment and ease the financial burden of plastic waste management
on taxpayers.
“Our communities have long relied on
refill and reuse models. What has changed is the dominance of single‑use
plastics driven by corporate interests. Governments must act decisively to make
reuse the standard rather than the exception,” Dena said.
She further noted that the costs of
maintaining a throwaway culture are staggering, with billions spent annually on
unclogging drainage systems, cleaning rivers, building incinerators, and
addressing health impacts linked to plastic pollution.
The two‑day festival brought
together civil society groups, policymakers, manufacturers, innovators, and
local communities to showcase practical alternatives to disposable plastics.
Exhibitions featured refill stations, zero‑waste innovations, and creative
upcycling projects, while discussions explored how Kenya could mainstream
sustainable packaging solutions.
Gerance Mutwol, Greenpeace Africa’s
plastics campaigner, criticized recycling as insufficient, arguing that it
allows corporations to continue producing plastics while shifting
responsibility to consumers and governments.
“Plastics remain in the environment
for generations, releasing harmful chemicals into soil, water, and even our
bodies. Refill and reuse systems stop pollution at its source, conserve
resources, and protect public health. This is both an environmental necessity
and an economic opportunity,” Mutwol said.
Running under the theme “Experience,
Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All,” the festival also included
family‑friendly activities such as children’s art competitions, live music,
poetry, and storytelling sessions. Organisers highlighted that the event was
designed to make sustainability engaging and accessible, showing that
alternatives to single‑use plastics are affordable, practical, and aligned with
African values of community and resourcefulness.
Admission to the festival was free,
encouraging broad participation and reinforcing the message that sustainable
living should be inclusive and attainable for all.
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