Circularity.fm

E-Waste Initiative Kenya - Repairing and Reusing Electronics

Circular Entrepreneurship in Kenya How do you build a sustainable e-waste management system in Kenya? In this episode, Jane Muriithi and Thuo Lawrence from E-waste Initiative Kenya (EWIK) talk about their approach to e-waste management across Kenya. Jane describes EWIK's collection model through drop-off points and door-to-door pickups across multiple cities, their repair and refurbishment process, and the challenges of managing different materials when items can't be repaired. You'll also hear about EWIK's skills training programs for youth, including e-waste handling and ICT repair, with specific support for young mothers through onsite childcare, entrepreneurship courses, and mentorship. Thuo explains their research mapping Kenya's e-waste value chain through stakeholder interviews to inform Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Listen to know how to build environmental and social impact through e-waste management, and to understand why partnerships necessary to scale e-waste recycling across East Africa. People Thuo Lawrence, E-waste Initiative Kenya (EWIK) https://www.linkedin.com/in/thuo-lawrence-7b67b926/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thuo-lawrence-7b67b926/] Jane Muriithi, E-waste Initiative Kenya (EWIK) Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] About E-waste Initiative Kenya (EWIK) is a registered NGO, founded in 2012 and officially recognised by the NGO Coordination Board of Kenya in 2016. Headquartered in Gitithia, Kiambu, with branches in Nairobi, the organisation specialises in comprehensive electronic waste management. Its services encompass the entire e-waste lifecycle, including training, collection, processing, and safe disposal, while promoting environmental sustainability and youth empowerment through skills development. EWIK is committed to creating a circular economy by addressing electronic waste challenges in Kenya and beyond. Further Links https://ewik.org/ [https://ewik.org/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/e-waste-initiative-kenya-repairing-and-reusing-electronics/ [https://circularity.fm/e-waste-initiative-kenya-repairing-and-reusing-electronics/]

Africa Collect Textiles and Green Forest Solutions - The need for global EPR systems

Circular Entrepreneurship in Kenya How can we transform the textile industry in Kenya to embrace a circular economy? In this episode, Alex Musembi from Africa Collect Textiles (ACT) and Sarah Njau from Green Forest Solutions discuss their collaborative efforts to streamline textile recycling and reuse in Kenya. Alex describes ACT's model of collecting post-consumer textiles through drop-off points and door-to-door pickups, sorting them for resale and upcycling, and the challenges of incentivizing proper disposal. Sarah explains the role of Green Forest Solutions in helping set up Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, which are vital for funding the infrastructure needed for effective textile waste management. They both highlight the impact of fast fashion, the need for better product design, and the importance of international partnerships to sustain these environmental initiatives. This episode sheds light on the intricate dynamics of the textile recycling market in Kenya and the global efforts required to support it. People Alex Musembi, Africa Collect Textiles, Green Forest Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-musembi-act/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-musembi-act/] Sarah Njau, Africa Collect Textiles, Green Forest Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-njau-9b89867b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-njau-9b89867b/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 00:00 What is ACT? 03:16 Collection & Incentives 04:47 Secondhand Textiles & Market Demands 06:30 Green Forest Solution 09:59 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Kenya 15:55 Market Structure & Cultural Aspects 19:48 Design, Recycling, and Upcycling 21:58 ACT’s Products and Local Industry Dynamics 26:09 EPR Pilot 33:34 Import/Export, Regulation, and Systemic Issues 38:23 Future Outlook & Calls to Action About ACT builds circular systems for fashion by collecting, sorting, and redistributing used clothing and footwear across Nairobi, then upcycling materials into new products. The organisation supplies sorted fiber streams (e.g., cotton, wool, acrylic) for local makers and industry, and provides secure processing for branded uniforms/workwear. Its model couples environmental aims with job creation and community engagement through drop-off points and B2B services. Media coverage places ACT within Nairobi’s growing eco-fashion ecosystem. Green Forest Solutions in Kenya provides digital tools and services for circular economy, focused on waste flow management, product traceability, and environmental compliance. Their platform connects brands, waste operators, and manufacturers to streamline reporting, lifecycle tracking, and regulatory tasks, supporting EPR and access to recycled materials across emerging markets. The company helps clients efficiently meet producer responsibility and sustainability requirements through a centralised, digital infrastructure. Further Links One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/africa-collect-textiles-and-green-forest-solutions-the-need-for-global-epr-systems/ [https://circularity.fm/africa-collect-textiles-and-green-forest-solutions-the-need-for-global-epr-systems/]

Mr Green Africa - Recyclates as cheap as Virgin Plastics

Circular Entrepreneurship in Kenya How do you build a circular economy for plastic that includes the informal sector? In this episode, Keiran Smith from Mr. Green Africa explains their approach to plastic recycling, which is built on integrating the informal waste collection sector into a formal business. Keiran details their model: a decentralized system of buy-back centers that use a proprietary app for transparent payments, a processing facility that turns collected plastic into pellets, and direct partnerships with corporations who use the recycled material in their packaging. You'll hear how Mr. Green Africa navigates the challenges of a fragmented supply chain, competes with the cost of virgin plastic, and plans to expand its operations from Kenya into other markets in East Africa. People Keiran Smith , Co-founder at Mr. Green Africa https://www.linkedin.com/in/keiran-smith-97a23039/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/keiran-smith-97a23039/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:34 Founding Mr. Green Africa 03:04 Principles of Mr. Green Africa 04:36 Kenyan Informal Waste Sector - Changes in the Last 11 Years 07:01 Changes in the Recycling Landscape 09:32 Mr. Green Africa's Business Model 14:20 Fair Trade and Waste Entrepreneurs 17:38 Collection and Supply Channels 22:58 Waste Collection Barriers 26:22 Product Applications and Market 29:01 Global Recycling Challenges 33:06 Future Plans and Partnerships 35:12 Who Should Reach Out to Mr. Green Africa? About Mr Green Africa integrates informal waste collectors via fair-trade principles, buying plastics and converting them into traceable, high-quality recyclates (PCR) for local and international markets. The company operates service stations (e.g., with TOTAL) where citizens can drop plastics and earn Green Points, and it is noted as the first recycling company in Africa certified as a B-Corp. Its model combines technology for operations with social impact metrics and corporate partnerships to expand collection and processing. Third-party project write-ups highlight aggregation and transformation of collected plastic into feedstock for new products. Further Links https://www.mrgreenafrica.com/ [https://www.mrgreenafrica.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/mr-green-trading-africa-kenya-ltd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mr-green-trading-africa-kenya-ltd/] https://www.instagram.com/mrgreen_africa/ [https://www.instagram.com/mrgreen_africa/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/mr-green-africa-recyclates-as-cheap-as-virgin-plastics/ [https://circularity.fm/mr-green-africa-recyclates-as-cheap-as-virgin-plastics/]

Taka Taka Solutions - Waste Collection in Kenya

Circular Entrepreneurship in Kenya What does it take to operate a waste management company in a market where you have to compete with a dump site fee of just one dollar per ton? In this episode, Daniel Paffenholz from Taka Taka Solutions details the realities of building an integrated waste management and recycling company in Kenya. He explains the immense challenge of scaling in a heavily fragmented and informal market, where you must compete against hundreds of other operators. We discuss the entire operational flow, from collection and sorting at their material recovery facility. Daniel describes the economic pressures of operating without gate fees and the strategic necessity to move beyond simple recycling into value-added compounding to build resilience against global market shifts. Recorded on site in Nairobi, this episode provides a ground-level view of the complexities and strategic decisions involved in the waste management industry in an emerging market. People Daniel Paffenholz, at Taka Taka Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-paffenholz-54446412a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-paffenholz-54446412a/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:28 Taka Taka Solutions Business Model 03:13 Waste Management in Kenya 07:04 How Taka Taka Started 08:48 Taka Taka Operations 12:26 Differences Between Waste Streams 17:40 Waste Management Industry Challenges 27:49 Policy Impact: Plastics Ban 30:46 Future Direction of Taka Taka 33:25 Who Should Reach Out to Taka Taka About TakaTaka Solutions runs a vertically integrated waste-management model: collection, sorting, in-house recycling (including flexible plastics), and composting, serving households and corporate clients across Nairobi. The company reports handling roughly 50–60 tonnes/day and more than 20,000 customers, with operations that include pelletizing plastics and producing compost from organics. It complements municipal gaps by buying from waste pickers and offering client recycling reports, positioning itself as a leading end-to-end player since 2011. Their recent work also extends to on-site sorting for manufacturers and organics upcycling in partnership projects. Governance and workforce claims emphasize formal jobs and significant participation of women in operations Further Links https://takatakasolutions.com/ [https://takatakasolutions.com/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/taka-taka-solutions-waste-collection-in-kenya/ [https://circularity.fm/taka-taka-solutions-waste-collection-in-kenya/]

Dandora - A Tour through Kenya's largest Dumpsite

Circular Entrepreneurship in Kenya What does it take to build community in one of Africa's largest dumpsites? In this episode, Cricket Writes from The Artistic Junction Collective talks about the reality of daily life at Dandora Dumpsite and community efforts to create change through art and collective action. Cricket walks us through the physical site and the social structures that govern it: the hierarchy between "big fish" and ordinary waste pickers, the struggle for school fees, and the dangers workers face without compensation or protection. You'll hear how The Artistic Junction Collective uses theatre, film, and poetry to address gender-based violence, provide alternatives to crime for youth, and work towards establishing a community art centre that offers residents a space to tell their own stories. Participating in this episode are also Geoffrey Karani, Kennedy Kiige, Wambui Gitangu, Susan Nyambura, and Ann Mega. Recorded on site at Dandora Dumpsite in Nairobi, Kenya, this episode showcases the harsh realities of working in waste and how communities respond to systemic neglect with creativity and solidarity. People Cricket Writes, The Artistic Junction Collective https://www.linkedin.com/in/cricket-writes-693182367/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cricket-writes-693182367/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters About Dandora Dumpsite has served as Nairobi's principal waste site since the 1970s. Despite being declared full in 2001, it continues to receive over 2,000 tonnes of unsorted waste daily. The site sustains an informal economy where thousands of waste pickers sort through materials to extract recyclables, earning around $2-3 per day. However, this comes at a severe cost: routine open burning releases toxic smoke that causes respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and other serious health impacts in surrounding communities. Yet systemic change remains slow, with county plans for waste-to-energy solutions facing ongoing delays and legal challenges. Working within this environment are community-based initiatives such as The Artistic Junction Collective. Led by poet and activist Cricket Writes, the collective uses theatre, film, poetry, and visual arts to address social issues affecting the community, from gender-based violence to lack of opportunities for youth. They organise performances, create films about local realities, and are working to establish a community art centre that can serve as an empowerment space for residents. Through creative expression and community organising, they offer alternatives to crime and provide platforms for residents to tell their own stories. Participating in this episode are also Geoffrey Karani, Kennedy Kiige, Wambui Gitangu, Susan Nyambura, and Ann Mega. Further Links Link tree to Cricket Writes channels: https://linktr.ee/wanjirahezron91?utmsource=linktreeprofile_share