Nakumatt unveils Month-long electronic recycling campaign.

Atul Shah, MD - Nakumatt Holdings

Regional retailer, Nakumatt Holdings,in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) and global technology firm, HP have jointly launched a month-long consumer campaign to encourage the responsible recycling of electronic items.       

Dubbed, the ‘Recycle Today for a Better Tomorrow’ programme, the campaign, which will also be rolled out in partnership with East African Compliant Recycling (EACR) an electronics waste management company, is part of the programme scale up for the recently launched Nakumatt Think Green, Go Blue campaign. 

Established two years ago, the Nakumatt Think Green, Go Blue campaign is geared at facilitating behavioral change among the retailer’s customers, staff and suppliers among other stakeholders by adopting the Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle Principles.

At the shop floor, Nakumatt shoppers across the region, are encouraged to consider allowing their shopping to be packed in reusable bags, used cartons and bales instead of plastic paper bags. Building upon the success of the Nakumatt Think Green, Go Blue campaign that encourages the recycling of plastics, metals, paper bags and glass items at strategically placed collection bins within the retailer’s outlets, the new expanded recycling programme will offer Nairobi residents a chance to recycle their electronic waste items such as kettles, TVs, fridges, computers, stereos, mobile phones.

Operating initially at five Nakumatt stores in Nairobi: Nakumatt Mega, Nakumatt Embakasi, Nakumatt Ngong Road, Nakumatt TRM and Nakumatt Ukay, the programme will be progressively rolled out to other Nakumatt stores in the coming months.

Like many other developing and developed nations, Kenya is facing a waste management challenge due to growing plastic and electronics waste. At the global front, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that reduction, reuse and recycling principles are the most effective ways to save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money.

According to Nakumatt Holdings, Managing Director, Mr. Atul Shah, the roll out of a consumer focused campaign remains the most effective avenue to encourage plastics and electronics waste reduction through a behavioural change campaign.

“At Nakumatt, we believe that the plastics and electronics waste environmental conservation challenge, can only be won through an integrated, focused and sustainable approach such as the ambitious Nakumatt Think Green; Go Blue campaign which is geared at sensitising end users,” he said.

And added: “alongside our partners, we shall continue driving this campaign aimed at providing positive impact going forward; as it encourages and sensitizes the final consumer to play an active role in environmental management. Consumers have long been ignored in a product cycle that is highly dependent on them.”

While welcoming the E-Waste recycling initiative at Nakumatt Branches, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner, reiterated that sustainable management of e-waste can combat

poverty and generate green jobs through recycling, collection and processing of e-waste.

“Smart public policies, creative financial incentives and technology transfer can turn e-waste from a challenge into an important resource for sustainable development," Steiner said. 

Herve Guilcher, Director of Environment, HP Europe, Middle East & Africa said, “HP has been a pioneer, first establishing electronic waste recycling in Kenya in 2010 and partnering with the EACR to establish Kenya’s first large scale recycling facility in December 2013. We are delighted that this initiative with Nakumatt expands the number of places people can conveniently recycle.”

Robert Truscott, CEO, East African Compliant Recycling said, “We are excited a be  part of this initiative to provide Nakumatt’s customers with the opportunity to recycle their plastics, metals, paper and electronic waste at our high standard facility in Athi River. Proper recycling helps to create a cleaner environment and because waste has a value, it creates jobs and recovers the raw materials needed by industry to make new products.

According to a recent UNEP study, Electronic waste is now Kenya's fastest growing waste component. UNEP estimates that over 17,000 tonnes of electronic waste is generated in Kenya annually. This is equivalent to 130 million mobile phones. Africa is growing and is expected to have 3.6 B habitants by 2050. Electronics consumption is accelerating for new and second hand products and this is helping to bridge the digital divide.

Electronic waste is a valuable resource and disadvantaged people carry out rudimentary recycling practices such as burning cables to access the copper and discard the less valuable parts which pollute the environment and are harmful to their health. For example a UNEP study in Dandora found heavy metals such as lead and mercury in the soil and contaminates the air; and a 2008 UNEP study with Kenyatta National Hospital of 300 schoolchildren near Dandora found that about 50% of them had respiratory problems, and 30% had blood abnormalities signalling heavy-metal poisoning.

South Africa and Kenya are currently the only countries in Africa that have established large scale recycling facilities to approved international health, safety and environmental standards.Through the Nakumatt recycling initiative with EACR, HP and UNEP Kenyans have the opportunity to ensure that rudimentary recycling becomes a thing of the past, and is replaced with proper recycling creating jobs and benefiting people’s health and the environment.