Kenya Sustainable Cities - Organic Waste and Bioplastics
- Cecilia Wandiga
- Sep 12, 2018
- 2 min read
Organic waste is a recycling challenge. Not only does decomposing organic material smell awful (the reason you have no doubt you are near a dumpsite or landfill), organic waste also makes waste material difficult to recycle.
The cost of removing oils and residues from paper or plastic is expensive. The cost of transporting organic waste to landfills is also high when you consider the fact that there is no use for waste when it is decomposing in a landfill.
Many in Kenya are looking for new business opportunities. Turning organic waste into bioplastics is an opportunity for exploration.
STEP 1: Collect organic waste at the source (restaurants, schools, hotels, businesses, farms, homes)
Examples of collection points
Since camel herds cannot be used everywhere
The Potential Benefits of Introducing Informal Recyclers and Organic Waste Recovery to a Current Waste Management System: The Case Study of Santiago de Chile (2018)
STEP 2: Develop a biodegradable plastic
Bioplastics made from upcycled food waste. Prospects for their use in the field of design (2017)
Food waste into bioplastics
Methane from dairy farms can be turned into bioplastic
Fisheries waste is useful for 3D printing bioplastic filament
Science can show you how to create new materials but the ability to make new businesses is yours. The beauty of the waste to bioplastics business is that waste is everywhere. Every single day you have new raw material, and, as human populations increase, there will be more waste.
Take the lead by developing the use cases that will shape the future of Kenya's bio-economy growth. If you need technical assistance, CSTI researchers can be hired to assist you (see R&D collaboration rates)
Now that you have seen the opportunities, how will you create your benefits?
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