Dajopen Waste Management Project

Dajopen Waste Management Project is a Community Based Organization (CBO) formed by members of Kitale, Kenya. The sole purpose of the CBO is to turn urban solid waste into wealth for the benefit of its slum dwellers and small scale farmers. Creating job for youths who migrate to urban centres. Our mission is to help clean the town environment through re-use and re-cycling of municipal solid wastes and enhancing food security by making and supplying value-added organic fertilizer to farmers in the community. Waste generation has been increasing in Kenya in accordance with rapid population growth and urbanization. The amount of solid waste generated per year is currently 4 million tonnes, and is predicted to double by 2030. Nevertheless, this rise in the generation of waste has not been accompanied by an increase in the capacity of authorities to deal with this challenge of solid waste management.

The Project tackles the Socioeconomic and Environmental conditions of vulnerable communities through community based waste management strategy. The strategy is implemented through collection of waste materials for production of recycled items and the training of other self-help groups and actors regarding alternative livelihood opportunities, waste management and organic farming. The project focuses on the environmental, social and economic challenges in Kitale and the entire country at large. It contributes to a cleaner town and preservation of the environment in a comprehensive manner. The critical issues that we address include; poverty and unemployment among youths in the slums. The continuously piling and uncollected garbage that remains an eye-sore in the informal  settlement, which are unhealthy and unfit-for-human habitation environment in which residents of Tuwan (a slum) live and food security for the poor families. The project therefore engaged in intensive awareness creation of the dangers posed by the over accumulated garbage to the health of the residents especially the children who play with garbage not understanding the dangers involved. Secondly, through training, members came to identify innovations that could be used to take advantage of the high population’s rate of waste generation to create viable enterprises.

The activity has  improved  lives of many poor small holder farmers the less privileged urbanites by  solving the poverty and food security concerns that affect the constituents in the neighborhood and in particular the residents of Tuwan slums. The specific attributes includes ---Collecting and using garbage for economic purposes and in the process reduce municipal solid waste streams that breeds toxic materials and pathogenic organisms into the dumps and landfills thereby contaminating ground and surface water.  Employing aerobic composting of bio-degradable waste and thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants that emanates from mixed solid waste heaps and dumps as a result of anaerobic decomposition. The anaerobic process is a significant source of methane gas in the atmosphere. In addition  our action reduces the traditional practice to burn garbage in residential areas and in landfills, which is normally used to reduce volume of garbage. Burning creates thick smoke that contains carbon monoxide, soot and nitrogen oxide, all of which is hazardous to human health and degrades urban air quality and can be avoided. Prevent solid waste dumping into waterways; drainage systems, streams and rivers that tend to alter aquatic habitats and harm native plants and animals.

The populations of the people, who have benefited from this initiative, are the women, youth and small scale farmers who replenish their depleted soil by using organic fertilizer. More than 216,000 people have been able to improve their living and economic standard due to this noble activity.  This has also  involve them in producing goods or providing services to a market, make them accountable to their members and the wider community for their social, environmental and economic impact and to remain autonomous with governance and ownership structures that embraces participation by stakeholder.  Addressing the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides applied heavily in the fast degrading agricultural soils in Kenya.  The soils have lost structure and texture due to excessive exploitation without sound conservation know how. The local farmers who more often than not keep adding large quantities of inorganic , chemical fertilizers in order to maintain target yields without caring to revitalize the soils for sustainable use. This has resulted in accumulation  of excessive  amount of nitrates and phosphate in the aquatic ecosystem , presence  of pesticide  residues in  various food stuffs, associated  with  mammalian toxicity  and a rise in resistance  of pest to chemical pesticides.

The project is guided by the Millennium Development Goal 7 that focuses on the promotion of Sustainable Development. Therefore, with a purpose of addressing the environmental sustainability, Dajopen Waste Management collects and recycles waste matter in an environmental friendly approach.    As we continue to industrialize and develop, garbage and other wastes materials emitted from households and dumping sites, factories etc are pollutant to the environment. This project advocates for green energy, food security, climate change mitigation and enterprises development both to rural and the less privileged urbanities (slums dwellers). Therefore  we address the plight of society.

The most unique product that the group is very proud of is the organic fertiliser, which has made the group win certificates, trophies and various awards within the region (Agricultural shows), nationally and internationally. The fertiliser composition shows a good balance of essential nutrients necessary for plant health. The process goes beyond ordinary composting in that, it involves addition of ingredients made out of ashes, charcoal dust, herbs ranging from tithonia, mijingu rock phosphates,comfrey and stinging nettles.  Other ingredients include calcium extracted from eggshells, ammonia from molasses, nitrogen, phosphate, and zinc from a variety of natural sources, all by our special use of garbage enzymes (GE). The enzymes are extracted as a fermentation process of organic wastes in specially controlled conditions that takes between three to six months. The end product we use as an additive and a catalyst to rapid decomposition for the ingredients in our compost fertilizer. At different dilutions, we use it as folia fertilizer, insecticide, pesticide and plant growth hormone (rapid bud and root development) because of acetic acid content. The products that have positively impacted on the communities lives include; the value added organic fertiliser, multi-purpose organic garbage enzymes and charcoal /waste paper cooking briquettes. Our competitors are the manufacturers of the inorganic fertilizers, and their products deplete the soil fertility by altering the soil ph and composition of organic matters.

Employing aerobic composting of bio-degradable waste and thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants that would have emanated from mixed solid waste heaps and dumps as a result of anaerobic decomposition. The anaerobic process is a significant source of methane gas in the atmosphere. In addition, by our action, we reduce the traditional practice to burn garbage in residential areas and in landfills, which is normally used to reduce volume of garbage. Burning creates thick smoke that contains carbon monoxide, soot and nitrogen oxide, all of which is hazardous to human health and degrades urban air quality and can be avoided. Prevent solid waste dumping into waterways; drainage systems, streams and rivers that tend to alter aquatic habitats and harm native plants and animals. Solids can also cause sedimentation and change stream flow and bottom habitat, which may significantly damage these valuable natural resources and the services they provide. Prevention of injure to people and property in slums that mushroom near open dumps and landfills. Therefore our technology prevents the accumulation of combustible gases that can cause fires easily and torch the makeshift shanty structures. Preventing  the unpleasant odor and unattractive appearance of piles of uncollected solid waste along streets and in fields, forests and other natural areas, which can discourage tourism and the establishment and/or maintenance of businesses.

 We have managed to train people in waste management within the region. We have over 168 fully qualified Trainer of Trainers (ToTs) within our members and other affiliated parties. The collection and recycling of garbage from the dumping sites has benefited over 220,000 people in the urban setup. Heaps of garbage which were dumped around their houses, offices and market places have been collected and recycled. By collecting the garbage, the breeding zones for mosquitoes, flies and rodents which pose threat to human health by causing communicable disease like cholera, typhoid and rabies has been eradicated.

its an evidence of how our technology products has been adopted by women enganging in farming.

Through this project the members of the Dajopen, including women and youth benefit from enhanced income generating opportunities and from a cleaner habitat and are empowered to transform their own living conditions. Dajopen has addressed the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides that are applied heavily in the fast degrading agricultural soils in Kenya. Trans Nzoia County is the food basket of Kenya and has been over depended upon to feed the nation. The soils have lost structure and texture due to excessive exploitation without sound conservation knowhow. The local farmers who more often than not keep adding large quantities of inorganic , chemical fertilizers in order to maintain target yields without caring to revitalize the soils for sustainable use. This has resulted in accumulation  of excessive  amount of nitrates and phosphate in the aquatic ecosystem , presence  of pesticide  residues in  various food stuffs, associated  with  mammalian toxicity  and a rise in resistance  of pest to chemical pesticides. By going organic, the compost product can be used to amendment the soil by replenishing it with organic matter which will improve the overall soil conditions; developing and maintaining structure, improving physical properties, decreasing susceptibility to erosion and encouraging microbial activity. The project is also an enterprise which assists the community in development after getting the proceeds from the recycled products. Other non-biodegradable waste matter is recycled to make other products such as necklaces, bangles, earrings and other ornamentals. The project is guided by the Millennium Development Goal 7 that focuses on the promotion of Sustainable Development. Therefore, with a purpose of addressing the environmental sustainability, Dajopen Waste Management collects and recycles waste matter in an environmental friendly approach. We have been collaborating with our mentors from the government research institutes and institutions of higher learning; The University of Eldoret and Kenya Agricultural And Livestock Research Organization(KARLO)

Below is a link to a youtube evidence of what we have done and backed by KARLO (watch the video from 27.58 minute)

https://youtu.be/XyVtbBhFsZQ

The collection and recycling of garbage from the dumping sites has benefited over 220,000 people in Kitale town. Heaps of garbage which were dumped around their houses, offices and market places have been collected and recycled. By collecting the garbage, the breeding zones for mosquitoes, flies and rodents which pose threat to human health by causing communicable disease like cholera, typhoid and rabies has been eradicated. Through this project the members of the Dajopen, including women and youth benefit from enhanced income generating opportunities and from a cleaner habitat and are empowered to transform their own living conditions. Street families in urban have benefitted from collecting and selling papers waste thus improving their lot in the society. The down approach has an integrated impact for the social economic and environmental conditions of the affiliated groups trained. In the first year the project was able to reach 30,000 horticultural and small scale farmers , in the next five years we are anticipating to reach 460,000 horticultural and small scale farmers who embrace the use of organic fertilizer to replenish their depleted soil by over use of chemical farm inputs.

In the next year the project will expand its compostable waste collection by introducing at-source sorting as well as expanding its clientele. This will be achieved through marketing, creation of awareness and strategic environmental education. In addition, we will expand the current shade as well as purchase packaging materials for our products, especially the organic fertilizer into smaller packets of 5kg, 10Kg, 25Kg and 50 Kg, packaged in printed polythene bags. We will also innovate our brands and designs. The project is addressing these issues in small scale due to financial constrain. However, so longer mankind exist the raw material increases day by day, due to human population, while the land, seas and oceans are not expanding.

In the next five years, we want to have a sustainable fertilizer manufacturing industry, which will be able to supply our product into the common market of eastern and southern Africa (COMESA), thus rejuvenating the soil in the entire region. After this we will look for a way to export to other continents where organic farming is embraced. Due to the fact that the soil nutrients  have been depleted and hence crop yield declining significantly, and also many crop diseases are being caused by the chemical farm inputs, so organic farming is a solution for man’s better healthy.

The barriers ranges from financial, technical and political will. For financial we need to buy recycling machines, and other implements. We need technical training from experts to make recycled products of high standard, thus to give a market niche to the clienteles as a company of choice. Already we have experienced a satisfactory political good will, so we can be able to utilize bio-degradable municipal solid waste (yard waste, roadside, market, restaurants, institutional, carpentry, sawmill etc.) to organic fertilizer for enterprise development, food security, energy use, and climate change mitigation, to advocate for and Support development of 3Rs (Re-use, Re-cycle, Reduce) implementation plans targeting all the residents of Kitale Municipality, to reduce the quantity of overall solid waste resulting in lower expenditures for local government to collect and dispose of solid waste.

We will overcome these barriers by engaging consultants and experts from state department for technical barriers, however for financial barrier we shall look for partners and well wishers willing to support this noble work. Further more we will overcome the financial barriers  by obtaining revenue from the sales of the recycled  products. For political barrier we have already engaged the local authority, ministry of agriculture, ministry of environment and natural resources, ministry of health and the ministry of industrialization , and the y have given us a clean bill . even the higher learning institutes have embraced the project by doing research and sending their interns to us for practical , analysis and research.

Dajopen Waste Management Project is a community based organization, therefore its a social enterprise   which makes a minimal profit for its members.

We are 34 members.

From these 34 member, we have the Chairperson and vice chair, The Group Secretary and Assistant Secretary and the Treasurer. The nine board members and the members are all full time workers. we also have trainers and mentors who work on part time basis.

The team has skills . All  members practice organic farming and Agroecology agriculture, and we are professionals in agriculture.

We are partnering with Kenya agricultural and livestock organization(KARLO), in research,analysis and quality measures of the recycled organic fertilizer. University of Eldoret in consultation and research. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on licensing and mentorship. National Environmental Trust Fund(NETFund) for training and seed financial support.

Dajopen operates on a Manufacturing business model which entails making finished goods from waste products, hence the slogan “Turning Waste into Income for Women in Kitale - Kenya”. Dajopen has been able to develop technologies that transform biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizers and convert inert materials into fuel while also making several materials useful to women in the communities within the region of Kitale. Plastic waste is used to produce products such as bead works and baskets, while organic waste has been used to come up with various patentable products for a wide range of application. These include biocides for use in farms, catalysts/conditioners for preparation of organic manure, and liquid organic fertilizer. The raw materials are sourced from households, the market and hotels in Kitale town where the group has strategically placed garbage bins targeting organic waste. The organization targets waste management into a source of livelihoods. Through the county government of Trans nzoia, Dajopen has been allocated an acre of land for waste management on which we started several innovations in agriculture and waste management. We have been able to make several technologies and innovations from waste including bags, pillow cases, hard maize Sheller and liquid fertilizers. The group further runs a plant clinic that advises farmers on sustainable soil management practices to boost agricultural productivity and enhance soil and water conservation. 

What SOLVE would help to overcome is funding which will enable the project to stop burning of waste in dump sites, which its thick smoke  contains carbon monoxide, soot and nitrogen oxide, all of which is hazardous to human health and degrades urban air quality and can be avoided.The proceeds will benefit the community, because this is a social enterprise Supporting this initiative will create jobs to the youths and women within the locality , while creating more revenue to the Government. Also we will  Prevent solid waste dumping into waterways; drainage systems, streams and rivers that tend to alter aquatic habitats and harm native plants and animals. Solids which  causes sedimentation and changes stream flow and bottom habitat, which significantly damage these valuable natural resources and the services they provide.The Prevention of injury to people and property in slums that mushroom near open dumps and landfills, will be the thing of the past. The HABITAT Environment will be clean for the Fauna and Flora to thrive.

The partnership goal is to see that this noble environment runs beyond my life span.The partnership will also enable other people to replicate this noble work and implement in other parts of the world to bring sanity to our environment, while the partner will get return of his / her investment.

It is my prayer that , we would like to partner with MIT faculty,Solve Members or other initiatives. I DO NOT HAVE NAMES IN PARTICULAR. The partners will be able to train us on waste management handling , disposal and recycling , while helping to market the recycled products. Also we will need funds to increase production, thus improving the Society environmental status.