Embu buys 31 acre land for garbage recycling

Embu County Government has purchased a 31 acre land in Rwika area in Mbeere South where a new dumping site and the recycling plant will be located.

The county has also has partnered with a private investor to set up a garbage recycling plant that will produce useful products from solid waste material.

Health Executive Dr Jamleck Muturi  said they will relocate the current dumping site from Muthatari, a highly populated area to the new site which has a lower population.

Dr Muturi said residents will be trained on garbage management and separation while youths will be engaged to collect garbage in Embu town and its environs at a fee.

 “At the factory, biodegradable materials such as banana leaves, waste vegetables and peels will be recycled into organic manure. Plastics will be transformed into fencing posts. Metallic and glassware waste will be recycled into other usable products,” he said.

He spoke when he joined more than 500 University of Embu students and staff who joined hands with the county’s garbage collectors to clean up Embu town and its suburbs on Saturday.

University Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration, Planning and Finance) Prof Eucharia Kenya said the clean up was aimed at creating a sense of individual responsibility in keeping the town and the environment clean.

She revealed the institution was developing a proposal on sustainable garbage collection and recycling whose implementation will be expanded to the community.

Students started the clean up from Kangaru area through Embu town to the River Rupingazi boundary.  Residents including ward reps joined them in the exercise where they also cleaned up various estates.