Migori County Director, National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), Tom Togo, has urged Migori County residents to be part and parcel of conservation by practicing environmental patriotism.
Speaking at NEMA offices in Migori on Tuesday, Togo said that the ever-persisting pollution around the market and residential places and along the River Migori was hugely affecting the efforts put in place to ensure safer and healthier spaces.
Migori town still suffers from garbage waste that largely finds its way into drainage systems, posing health hazards and drainage problems.
Togo said that it was the constitutional responsibility of every Kenyan to ensure that they live in a conducive and enabling environment. He, however, noted that this can only be achieved if the residents become responsible for holding the polluters accountable.
“Let us be self-disciplined and responsible by not partaking in environmental pollution in order to assist the government in environmental issues”, said Togo.
On the issue of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the officer said that the introduction of EPR regulations will ensure producers of goods and services take responsibility for what they produce beyond their factory gates.
The National Environment Management Agency (NEMA) had announced a 60-day notice to all producers in Kenya to comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations.
In the EPR regulations on the Sustainable Waste Management Act that became effective in 2022, Section 13 requires every producer to bear mandatory extended producer obligations to reduce pollution and environmental impacts of the products they introduce in the market.
Togo acknowledged that the EPR will address the missing link that NEMA and other environmental actors have been lacking in addressing matters concerning the environment, climate change, and solid waste management.
“EPR will ensure the producers of commodities take responsibility for what they produce. It will be an alignment that will tie the producer to their commodities beyond post-production”, affirmed Togo.
He explained that the burning of plastic materials should be discouraged because it pollutes the environment and has a negative impact on health. Togo further noted that EPR will reinforce rules to recycle plastic materials as well as ensure better management and professionalism among the producers.
By Geoffrey Makokha
