EDINBURGH, Scotland — While plastic pollution is typically viewed as an environmental issue, in Kenya it also drives economic growth. Entrepreneurs, community organizations and refugees convert discarded plastic into products, generating employment and reducing waste. Innovative recycling businesses and partnerships turn plastic waste into a valuable resource that supports livelihoods and strengthens communities.

Although Kenya has made progress in reducing poverty over the past two decades, poverty remains a significant challenge. According to the World Bank, about one-third of Kenyans lived below the national poverty line before the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of creating sustainable employment opportunities. Kenya’s plastic economy addresses both environmental pollution and poverty by creating jobs, generating income and supporting vulnerable communities, including refugees and informal waste pickers.

Refugee Initiative

Congolese refugee Raphael Basemi arrived at Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp in 2009 with minimal belongings. After several years as a teacher, he founded Fraternity for Development Integrated (FRADI), initially offering language and vocational training for refugees. While studying business management, Basemi identified plastic waste as an opportunity to create jobs and improve the camp’s environment.

FRADI combines education, vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities to help refugees build practical skills and become more self-reliant before expanding into plastic recycling.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Basemi launched a recycling project that has since grown into Kakuma’s largest community-led recycling enterprise. With support from local authorities and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), he established plastic collection centers and a workshop producing everyday items such as rulers, pegs, cups and plates from recycled plastic, expanding Kenya’s plastic economy. In the past three years, the initiative has created more than 500 jobs for refugees and host community members, providing reliable income for hundreds of families while reducing plastic waste in the camp.

Community Partnerships

A key example is the Fair Recycling Project, a partnership between the Danish Refugee Council, Mr. Green Africa and Unilever. The project seeks to build an inclusive plastic recycling system that benefits informal waste pickers and refugees while reducing environmental pollution. It provides training, safer working conditions, business support and fair prices for collected plastics, enabling participants to build stable livelihoods and increase their incomes.

The project has already made a significant impact. Waste picker Francis began collecting plastic waste in 2016 with only a sack. After receiving business training and financial support, he expanded his efforts into a medium-sized recycling business. He now purchases plastic from smaller collectors, creating additional income opportunities in his community while supporting his family.

For Burundian refugee Rukundo, recycling has offered a path to self-reliance. After training through the Fair Recycling Project, he learned to identify and collect valuable plastics. In his first week, he collected 46 kilograms, earning income that motivated him to expand his business. He now encourages other refugees to see plastic as a resource with economic value and a way to earn a sustainable income.

Entrepreneurial Expansion

Innovation is expanding beyond refugee communities. Across Kenya, entrepreneurs are building businesses that combine environmental protection with job creation. In Mombasa, Baus Taka Enterprise operates a technology-based waste collection system that connects households with recycling services, employs an all-women team and collects about 10 tonnes of waste each month. Capapo Solutions buys plastic waste from local communities, sells recycled materials and produces environmentally friendly products for businesses and tourists. The company exemplifies how Kenya’s plastic economy positively impacts communities by creating jobs and protecting the environment.

Other organizations are increasing the value of recycled materials through creative approaches. The Flipflopi Project in Lamu gained international recognition for building a traditional dhow boat from recycled plastic. The organization now operates collection centers, manufactures furniture from recycled plastic and provides technical training, all while reducing plastic waste in local dumpsites. Ocean Sole has transformed thousands of discarded flip-flops from Kenya’s beaches into sculptures, artwork and home décor, creating jobs for local artisans and raising awareness about marine pollution.

These businesses show that recycling can deliver both environmental and economic benefits. By supporting entrepreneurs, formalizing waste collection and investing in local recycling industries, Kenya is creating jobs, reducing pollution and promoting sustainable production. For refugees, women and informal waste collectors, the expanding recycling sector offers new opportunities for financial independence and long-term inclusion, helping many low-income households build more secure livelihoods. Communities around the world can learn from Kenya’s recycling businesses, which show that innovative local solutions can address environmental problems while creating jobs and reducing poverty. By viewing plastic as a valuable resource rather than waste, these initiatives are helping build cleaner communities, stronger local economies and more sustainable livelihoods for thousands of people.

– Jessica Begg

Jessica is based in Edinburgh and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr