Several important laws and regulations oversee Kenya's waste management system: the Environmental Management and Coordination (EMCA) Act of 1999 is the primary act. All waste rules are created in accordance with this main environmental law. It confers the power to enact laws governing the handling, treatment, transportation, recycling, and disposal of waste.
The Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022 sets up a modern national system for managing waste. It focusses on separating waste at the source, recovering it, reusing it, recycling it, and separating it.
The principles of the circular economy and the polluter pays principle are also included. Subsequent waste management laws (as well as associated extended producer responsibility laws) are part of the regulatory rollout from this act.
Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations (Legal Notice 178 of 2024) went into effect in November 2024, with minor modifications in early 2025. This waste management legislation provides contemporary standards for waste handling throughout Kenya.
The regulations impose obligations on all parties engaged in the processing, storage, transportation, segregation, and destruction of waste.
- Waste Generator Responsibilities Prior to disposal, separate garbage at the source into categories (general, recyclable, and organic) that are clearly identified and colourcoded.
- Reduce trash output by employing greener manufacturing methods (such as recycling and energy/raw material saving).
- Waste should only be disposed of at locations that have been allowed; do not dispose of it in public spaces like streets or parks.
- Providers of Waste Services: Waste collection, handling, and transportation are restricted to licensed businesses.
