In Nairobi, approximately 3,085 tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated every day. Yet only around 65 per cent is collected and just 15 per cent is recovered, with the majority ending up in open dumpsites such as Dandora Dumpsite – contributing to environmental degradation, public health risks, and greenhouse gas emissions.
In response, a new Material Recovery Facility (MRF) has opened in Korogocho, marking a major step forward in community-led waste management.
“Globally, one billion people live in informal settlements. This is why Kenya, Italy, and the United Nations are coming together to improve access to land, housing, and urban basic services, including solid waste management,” said UN-Habitat Executive Director Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach during her site visit to the newly established Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Korogocho settlement, the first of its kind in an informal settlement in Nairobi.
The facility, officially launched on 6 March under the Waste Wise Nairobi – Korogocho Chapter initiative, is now beginning operations. The visit, attended by representatives from the Government of Kenya, the Italian Embassy and development partners, provided an opportunity to assess early progress and community impact. The project is implemented through a partnership between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Nairobi City County, and the AVSI Foundation, with financial support from the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The Korogocho MRF serves as a decentralized hub for sorting and processing dry recyclable waste, enabling materials to be reintegrated into the value chain through sale to recycling companies. Beyond waste management, the facility creates income-generating opportunities for community-based organizations (CBOs) and local waste workers, strengthening livelihoods while advancing circular economy practices.
By promoting waste segregation at source and community-led material recovery, the Korogocho MRF directly addresses gaps in collection and recovery. It reduces the volume of waste sent to disposal sites, lowers methane emissions from unmanaged waste, and demonstrates how decentralized solutions can improve service delivery in underserved areas.
“Our role as government is to formalize, support and scale what these community-based organizations already do. Kenya is committed to replicating this model across Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret and beyond,” said Korir Sing’oei, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Foreign Affairs.
The Korogocho MRF is a concrete example of how zero-waste approaches can be implemented in informal settlements, where the need is greatest and the impact most transformative. By combining infrastructure investment with community engagement, institutional support, and inclusive governance, the initiative reflects a shift from linear waste management to circular urban systems.
As cities continue to grow, particularly in the Global South, such models highlight the importance of integrating informal actors, strengthening local service delivery, and designing waste systems that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
Cover photo: © UN-Habitat