EXAMINING OPTIONS FOR MITIGATING MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE NAIROBI RIVER BASIN, KENYA

Abstract

Microplastic pollution, along with climate change and global warming are environmental challenges that affect ecosystems and human ability to conserve biological diversity in the near to medium-term future. Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, is drained by the Nairobi River Basin (NRB) - an important ecosystem given its natural resource and socio-economic values to the residents. With over 55% of the Nairobi population living in informal settlements predominantly along the riverbanks, and almost no waste management system in place in these communities, it is estimated that 67 tonnes of waste primary plastic, which will invariably disintegrate into microplastics, pollutes the river daily. To address microplastic pollution, a proactive approach of managing waste is examined. A summary of the plastic waste management efforts in Nairobi to date is presented. The main aim is to highlight the shortcomings in current plastic waste management practices and to identify the research needs to inform future guidelines aimed at reducing the negative impacts of microplastic pollution on the NRB ecosystem.