A comprehensive waste management capacity-building training was conducted for waste sector actors in Mombasa County, with a strong emphasis on circular economy principles and sustainable resource recovery. The training was facilitated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening environmentally responsible waste systems, reducing landfill dependence, and promoting climate-smart waste solutions.
The program brought together waste collectors, recyclers, aggregators, municipal stakeholders, and private sector operators to enhance technical understanding of waste segregation, organic waste recovery, material valorization, health and safety standards, and environmentally compliant processing practices. Special focus was placed on closing the waste loop by transforming waste streams into productive inputs rather than treating waste solely as a disposal challenge.
Ecoh Holdings Ltd led the organic waste management component, addressing the largest fraction of the municipal waste stream. Organic waste typically represents approximately 60–70% of total solid waste generated in urban coastal regions such as Mombasa, driven largely by food markets, hospitality facilities, households, and fresh produce handling. When unmanaged, organic waste contributes significantly to landfill overflow, methane emissions, leachate contamination, public health risks, and operational costs for municipalities.
The training demonstrated environmentally responsible organic waste processing through the adoption of 24-hour composting technology, an accelerated aerobic system that stabilizes organic material efficiently while minimizing odor, pathogens, and greenhouse gas emissions. Participants received practical exposure on feedstock preparation, moisture control, temperature monitoring, carbon-to-nitrogen balance, contamination management, and quality assurance for finished compost.
This technology delivers measurable impact across three critical sustainability pillars:
1. Organic Waste Management Efficiency
Rapid composting diverts high volumes of biodegradable waste from landfills and open dumping sites, significantly reducing transportation costs, landfill pressure, and environmental pollution. It enables decentralized processing close to waste generation points such as markets, institutions, and hotels, improving operational efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations.
2. Climate Change Mitigation
By diverting organic waste from anaerobic landfill conditions, the system prevents the formation of methane, a greenhouse gas approximately 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Controlled aerobic composting reduces emissions while supporting carbon sequestration in soils when compost is applied to agriculture and landscaping.
3. Food Security and Soil Health Enhancement
The process produces high-quality organic fertilizer that improves soil structure, microbial activity, water retention, and nutrient availability. This supports sustainable food production, reduces dependency on synthetic fertilizers, lowers input costs for farmers, and strengthens local food systems, particularly in peri-urban and smallholder farming contexts.
Overall, the training strengthened local technical capacity, promoted responsible waste valorisation, encouraged private-sector innovation, and reinforced the transition toward a green and circular economy where waste is repositioned as a valuable resource contributing to environmental protection, economic resilience, and community well-being.