Kisumu County government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a waste recycling firm to manage solid waste in the area.
The partnership with Biogas International targets to separate waste at source and recycle organic waste to produce biogas and fertilizer.
Biogas International Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dominic Kahumbu said non-organic waste would be crushed and used to make interlocking bricks.
Speaking in Kisumu during the signing of the MOU, Kahumbu said the technology which is environment friendly shall be piloted at Ahero town to manage waste from the market before being rolled out across the county.
“We are targeting two metric tonnes of waste from Ahero market which has been a challenge to manage. The waste is 80 percent organic therefore shall be used to produce biogas,” he said.
The gas, he added, shall be supplied to the market to be used for cooking and drying fish and vegetables to curb use of charcoal and firewood which are detrimental to the environment.
Kahumbu said Biogas International has developed an incinerator which shall be used to burn non-biodegradable matter like pampers to ensure that all the waste from the market and the town is managed.
He added that the project apart from conserving the environment would create job opportunities for the youth who would be engaged in brick making and transportation of waste to strategic collection points.
“We must change the narrative and look at garbage as a resource. Apart from biogas, we are going to produce fertilizer from our bio digesters and bricks from non-organic waste,” he said.
He disclosed that the firm has implemented a similar project at Dunga beach in Kisumu where they harvest water hyacinth from Lake Victoria to produce biogas which is supplied to fish mongers in the area to dry and fry fish.
Kahumbu added the organization has embarked on sensitizing the local community to establish door step gardens to grow vegetables and fruits using fertilizer from the bio digesters.
“Nutrition is very key in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic therefore we want our people to plant more vegetable and fruits to boost their immunity,” he said.
Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Salmon Orimba said the county government has allocated land for the firm to start operations.
The partnership, he said could not have come at a better time since the county was grappling with management of over 200 metric tonnes of waste generated in the area daily.
By Chris Mahandara.
