The Mr Green Africa project, named after our on-ground partner, aims to scale plastic waste community-based collection in Kenya through incentives, while enhancing recycling capabilities in the region to unlock the hidden value of plastic waste.
Kenya, Africa
Encouraging communities to collect plastic waste, while enhancing capabilities to produce high-quality recyclates and unlock value from hard-to-recycle plastic waste.
High quality recyclates produced by Mr Green Africa, using technology from Alliance member Erema Group
High quality recyclates produced by Mr Green Africa, using technology from Alliance member Erema Group
Overview
The Mr Green Africa project, named after our on-ground partner, aims to scale plastic waste community-based collection in Kenya through incentives, while enhancing recycling capabilities in the region to unlock the hidden value of plastic waste.
Location
Kenya, Africa
Scattered across the city of Nairobi are Mr Green Africa’s trading points, where deposited plastic waste is exchanged for cash or Green Points that may be used to purchase daily goods and supplies. All that is collected is turned into recyclates, sold to meet rising demand for recycled plastic feedstock.
With support from the Alliance, Mr Green Africa’s consumer-facing collection model, as well as its informal sector collection network, will be scaled up and enhanced. Through introducing greater incentives for recycling and improving material traceability, the programme seeks to effectively bring communities on board a more circular waste management and recycling system.
Infrastructural improvements to Mr Green Africa’s facilities are in line as well, to increase the amount of high-quality post-consumer recyclate produced from plastic waste, in addition to plans to enhance capabilities around processing hard-to-recycle plastic waste.
"We need to find a way (for) stuff that today we see as waste, tomorrow we see as valuable materials. We need to ensure that we live in circularity and that is what this legally binding treaty...that we are negotiating should seek to do"
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen after her visit to Mr Green Africa