Nairobi: A Non-governmental organization, ‘Greenpeace Africa’, has called on the Government to institute bold measures to curb the growing challenge of single-use plastics, warning that the continued dependence on throwaway packaging materials, is causing far-reaching environmental and economic harm. The call came during the launch of the inaugural Refill and Reuse Festival at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi.
According to Kenya News Agency, the two-day Festival brought together local communities, civil society organisations, policymakers, innovators, and manufacturers, to showcase alternatives to single-use plastics and deliberate on strategies to mainstream refill and reuse systems nationwide. Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead for the Pan-African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, noted that refill and reuse models are rooted in African culture, but have been undermined by the influx of single-use plastics, promoted by corporations.
‘Refill and reuse systems are not new to Africa. What is new is the invasion of single-use plastics pushed by corporations prioritizing profit over people and planet. Governments must invest in refill infrastructure and set clear targets that make reuse the norm, not the exception,’ stated Dena. The Project Leader explained that refill involves using a container repeatedly for the same product, such as refilling a shampoo bottle, while reuse entails repurposing containers for other uses, like using a cleaned five-litre cooking oil jerry can to store water or other liquids.
She added that these practices are already present in communities through water refilling stations, milk ATMs in supermarkets, and oil refill points. ‘Today, we are demonstrating that these solutions are practical, while advocating for policies that make them accessible to all Kenyans,’ she established. While Kenya has banned single-use plastics since 2017 and enacted laws such as the Sustainable Waste Management Act and extended producer responsibility regulations, Dena that most measures focus on managing waste, rather than addressing production.
‘As we manage waste, production continues unchecked. Recycling alone is insufficient, as research shows that only about nine percent of plastic ever produced is effectively recycled,’ she echoed. Similarly, Gerance Mutwol, Plastics Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa pointed-out that recycling allows corporations to continue producing plastics, while shifting responsibility to consumers and governments.
‘Plastics persist in the environment, leaching harmful chemicals into soil, water, and human bodies. Refill and reuse systems prevent plastic pollution at the source, conserve resources, create jobs, and protect public health,’ he highlighted. On the other hand, the Festival highlighted sustainable alternatives developed by local businesses as Deborah Riru of Baskets Kenya, announced that her Organisation crafts baskets and other everyday items from natural, biodegradable materials such as sisal, palm leaves, raffia, and banana leaves.
‘These products can be used multiple times and decompose naturally, unlike plastics that take centuries to break down,’ she elaborated. Further, Riru added that shopping baskets, storage baskets, and other woven items replace disposable plastics in households and markets, reducing environmental harm. Gisore Nyabuti, the Chairperson of the Kenya National Waste Speakers Welfare Association, insisted that refill and reuse present a more dignified and sustainable model for waste workers than conventional recycling.
‘Less than ten percent of plastic produced is recycled. Even recycled plastic is rarely restored to its original form, and informal waste collectors earn minimal income, while bearing the brunt of plastic pollution,’ he disclosed, stating that policies on waste management, often remain confined to boardrooms, while those on the ground see little benefit. Nyabuti highlighted the unfairness of current systems, in which extended producer responsibility schemes are designed by manufacturers, but fail to address the realities of waste collection at the community level.
He warned that small-scale consumers, often pay more for smaller packaging, a practice he described as a ‘poverty tax’, while corporations focus solely on profit. ‘We are promoting recycling, but it does not benefit the communities collecting waste. Refilling and reusing can offer a fairer, more just transition for workers and the public,’ he reaffirmed. Dorothy Otieno, Programme Officer at the Centre for Environment, Justice and Development, mentioned that refill and reuse complement zero-waste approaches that conserve resources and redesign materials to avoid single-use waste.
‘Zero-waste systems promote products that can be refilled and reused repeatedly, reducing resource extraction and preventing the burning of materials, which wastes resources,’ she illustrated. Otieno highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of transitioning from plastics to natural materials such as cotton and sisal, which generate employment and support local industries.
‘As we discuss refill and reuse products, we must focus on alternatives that are safe and biodegradable. This supports a just transition, while creating jobs and protecting the environment,’ she reiterated. Likewise, Otieno revealed that Kenya is developing technical guidelines for the implementation of reuse systems under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, adding that these guidelines aim to standardize best practices for refill and reuse, providing a framework for stakeholders across sectors.
Meanwhile, the event included refill stations, zero-waste exhibitions, children’s upcycling competitions, live music, poetry sessions, and storytelling circles, to engage participants with hands-on sustainability practices. Environmental campaigners urged the government to provide political will and financial investment, to scale up refill and reuse systems nationwide.
They noted that such systems could reduce the hidden economic costs of plastic pollution, which include expenses for drainage maintenance, incineration, river cleanup, and health impacts. ‘Throwaway culture is expensive, countries spend billions cleaning up drainage systems, building incinerators, and covering health expenses linked to plastic pollution. Refill and reuse offer a solution that is both environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial,’ Dena said.
Additionally, stakeholders emphasized that mainstreaming refill and reuse will require collaboration between government, civil society, local innovators, and communities. They highlighted the importance of policy frameworks that ensure equitable participation and economic benefit for informal workers and local businesses, while also sensitizing corporations to reduce single-use plastic production.
In the meantime, the festival demonstrated that Kenya has the opportunity to lead in sustainable packaging and resource conservation, showing that cultural practices of refilling and reusing containers can be revitalized as part of modern environmental solutions. Campaigners also urged immediate action to embed refill and reuse in national policies, ensuring that the country moves from reactive waste management toward proactive prevention and sustainable consumption.