Greenpeace Africa Urges Kenya to Scale Up Refill and Reuse to Cut Single-Use Plastics at Nairobi Festival
From Left: Ms Hellen Kahaso Dena who is Project Lead – Pan African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, Dorothy Otieno – Programme Officer of the Plastics and Waste Management Programme at the Centre for Environment, Justice and Development, Ms Deborah Riru – Representative, Baskets Kenya, and Gisore Nyabuti who is the Chairperson, Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association, during a media briefing at the National Museums of Kenya on November 14, 2025.
Greenpeace Africa on Thursday opened a two-day Refill and Reuse Festival in Nairobi, urging the government and private sector to accelerate alternatives that reduce Kenya’s reliance on single-use plastics. The event brought together environmental groups, innovators, waste pickers and policy advocates.
Kenya has made progress through policies such as the plastic bag ban and the Sustainable Waste Management Act.However, environmental groups say these measures still focus more on waste management than on reducing plastic production, even though only about 9 percent of global plastic is recycled.
Speaking during the opening session, Greenpeace Africa Project Lead for Plastics, Helen Kahaso-Dena, said the festival aims to show that refill and reuse systems are already working in Kenyan communities.
“Refill and reuse is not a dream for the future — it is happening right now across Kenya .We need political will, investment and clear guidelines if these systems are to become the norm rather than the exception.” She said.
Kahaso-Dena added that major manufacturers continue to rely heavily on single-use packaging.
She said Kenyan households are ready for alternatives if given the right support.
“Kenyans are willing to shift, but the system must make it easy,we cannot recycle our way out of this crisis we must reduce plastic production at the source.” She said .
At the exhibition section, Baskets Kenya representative Deborah Riru showcased reusable, biodegradable products made from locally sourced materials.
She said natural products offer practical replacements for everyday plastic items.
“Our baskets are made from sisal, raffia, palm leaves and banana fibre, and they last for years .They are 100 percent biodegradable, so they don’t harm the environment when disposed.” She said.
Riru noted that the growing demand for eco-friendly products reflects shifting attitudes among Kenyans.
She encouraged more women and youth to join sustainable craft industries.
“Sustainable production creates jobs while protecting the environment . If alternatives are affordable, households will quickly move away from plastic.” She said.
From the waste sector, Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association chairperson Gisore Nyaputi-Brown said recycling has not delivered real environmental results or provided fair incomes.He said waste pickers remain underpaid even as plastic production keeps rising.
“Recycling has not given waste pickers dignified livelihoods, only a small fraction of plastic can be recycled, and most cannot return to its original use.” He said.
Nyaputi-Brown urged policymakers to prioritise regulations that protect workers and reduce unnecessary production.
He said reuse systems offer more sustainable and fair outcomes.
“Manufacturers benefit most while communities carry the burden, refill and reuse can create better jobs and reduce plastic waste dramatically.”He said.
On policy and research, Centre for Environment, Justice and Development (CEJAD) programme officer Dorothy Otieno said refill and reuse systems are central to achieving a zero-waste future.She said these models help reduce toxic materials and strengthen local industries like sisal and cotton.
“Zero-waste models aim to design waste out of the system completely .Refill and reuse are key because they cut pollution at the source.”she said.
Otieno also highlighted ongoing national work on technical guidelines for reuse, led by the Ministry of Environment.She said the guidelines will help Kenya align with global plastic reduction efforts.
“The guidelines will give businesses and households a clear path toward reuse, Kenya can lead in global plastics treaty negotiations if it strengthens these systems.” She said.
With government support, investment in infrastructure, and active community participation, Kenya can move beyond a throwaway culture and set ambitious targets that make reuse the norm, rather than the exception
