Watamu Community Solid Waste Management and Recycling Enterprises

Original project description

The initiative deals with solid waste pollution in Watamu Marine Park and Reserve beaches and nearby villages. By combining environmental welfare and conservation tasks with community empowerment, employment and alternative income generation, the initiative sets an example for community-based waste management.

The initiative creates income opportunities for the community through employment and waste recycling. The income generated from plastic recycling operations helps the initiative to remain operational and sustainable. In addition, art and other interesting objects produced from the waste collected will be sold at tourist outlets.
Plastic waste – currently harvested free of charge in the project area – can be processed and sold to recycling businesses throughout Kenya. Local firms support the initiative through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) sponsorship activities, enabling community members to turn plastic waste into a saleable commodity.

Social impact: The initiative will increase the level of weekly employment for at least 40 women and young people, and provide full-time employment for five waste recycling operators. It will also provide arts and crafts training to 20 women and members of youth groups, improving their income-generating opportunities.

Environmental impact: The aim is to recycle over 70 % of plastic waste in Watamu and provide regular weekly waste collection along 7 km of Marine Park beaches. This will significantly reduce plastic pollution in marine protected areas and help protect sea turtle nesting habitats.

Economic impact: A weekly income will be generated for 45 community waste collectors and operators as well as 20 producers of arts and crafts. The plan is to set up pro-poor small business enterprises selling art and other interesting items made from waste materials.

Current project updates

Last updated: 7 March 2013

Targets Achieved:
• We are now the legal owners of 1 acre of land and have petitioned for the license to begin construction on the recycling facility on this land.
• Other activities like communications capacity, networking, business promotion and marketing have been held in focus and are ongoing.
• Partnerships have been further developed where both have pledged full support and collaboration which is vital to the long term success.
• A local presentation was held to celebrate the SEED Award and invited all local stakeholders, sponsors and supporters to join in Watamu Enterprise’s success and show them what their support has achieved.
• Watamu received national media recognition with an article covering its success and objectives published in The Star national daily newspaper in May this year. Also, a full page article about their initiative was published in Chonjo magazine which is very popular and has a wide readership at the north coast of Kenya.
• A short video was compiled which can be seen on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE35zrLB4Gc

Growth plans description

2013:
We anticipate that the Watamu will gain momentum and receive considerable support and public interest in 2013 when the recycling facility is up and running. The arts and crafts made from recycled waste materials will be on display as a public attraction and promote a developing business opportunity.

Future growth plans include the following:

• Construct the recycling compound constructions, including a compound boundary wall and recyclable waste sorting bays
• Complete building of a workshop for training by professional local artists
• Set up project communications base and capacity to develop partnerships and encourage project support
• Continue to create linkages between environmental welfare, community benefits and business development and inspirational art as an achievable solution to our waste management challenges

2012:
• Expand the initiative’s plastic processing capacity and activities and develop links to the national plastic recycling industry.
• Develop the initiative’s art and craft skills base and promote products via tourist outlets.
• Increase the amount of plastic waste collected in the Watamu area.
• Expand the marketing and business networks already established locally and nationally.

Current Needs

• Training to help develop art and craft skills.
• Business management training.
• Business network building.
• Acquisition of a waste collection vehicle.

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