An Assessment of how extended producer responsibility can be integrated to help tackle plastic pollution in Kenya

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dc.contributor.authorKibaara, C. M.
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-13T11:16:01Z
dc.date.available2025-11-13T11:16:01Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionFull - text undergraduate research project
dc.description.abstractPlastic pollution is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most pertinent concerns. The longevity of plastics, which is one of its most valued characteristics, makes management of plastic waste an incredibly difficult task. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a concept that has arisen as one of the most promising policy approaches for tackling this menace. It has been introduced by many jurisdictions globally. The Kenyan government has also begun attempts to integrate this concept into the Kenya waste management legal framework. In 2022 it released the Draft Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations under the Sustainable Waste Management Act. Many aspects of these draft regulations are commendable. They employ a broad definition of producer that defines producers of goods as any entity that introduces a product to the market, encompassing manufacturers, importers, distributors, and vendors. It also sets out obligations for these producers such as recycling and eco-design of products. It provides for creation of individual and collective compliance schemes so that producers can band together to fund raise for fulfilment of their new obligations. However, these regulations have many shortfalls that may limit the effectiveness of EPR in mitigating the plastic pollution crisis. This study seeks to assess how Extended Producer Responsibility can be integrated into Kenya’s waste management legal framework for management of plastic waste. The study will be guided by the following objectives; to examine the salient features and inadequacies of the 2022 Draft Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, to examine the current and prospective international legal framework around management of plastics pollution and extended producer responsibility, to carry out a comparative analysis of the European Union legal framework around Extended Producer Responsibility and plastic waste management, and finally to give recommendations for the amendment of the Draft EPR Regulations to effectively integrate EPR into the Kenyan environmental legal framework and for the introduction of EPR guidelines for plastic waste management. The research methodology used in this study is desk-based research. The study utilizes doctrinal analysis of legal instruments, analysis of written sources such as journal articles and books, and a comparative analysis with the European Union to assess how EPR can be integrated into Kenya’s waste management system. Shortfalls of the draft regulations include lack of provisions on regulation of imported goods, lack of provisions addressing support for Small and Medium Enterprises to comply with the new obligations, and an insufficient framework for monitoring and assessing compliance with the scheme. Introduction of guidelines for products under different product classes such as glass products and plastic products should also be implemented. This will be in consideration of the different nature of these product classes, from the processes of disposal and the different environmental risks they pose if improperly disposed of. These guidelines should introduce mandatory product requirements, which are very effective measures to reduce the environmental impact of plastic pollution.
dc.identifier.citationKibaara, C. M. (2024). An Assessment of how extended producer responsibility can be integrated to help tackle plastic pollution in Kenya [Strathmore University]. http://hdl.handle.net/11071/15835
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11071/15835
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherStrathmore University
dc.titleAn Assessment of how extended producer responsibility can be integrated to help tackle plastic pollution in Kenya
dc.typeThesis
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