Combined with emerging technologies and innovation, circularity stands to achieve even higher environmental advantages. This was one of the conversations held on November 29^th 2023 at the WEEE Centre Conference where the KEPSA was participating in different capacities. In a panel session on the role of digital technology and innovation in accelerating the transition to a circular economy which was moderated by Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Director Youth, Jobs and Ajira Digital at KEPSA, it emerged that the gap in achieving a circular economy can be closed if stakeholders invested on digital technology to enhance efficiency in waste management and provide credible data for insight and decision-making.

Dr. Gachugu was joined by Ms. Mary Ngechu, KEPSA Director, SMEs & Start-ups; as well as the CEO Taka ni Mali, Mr. Olivier Vanden; CEO, Close The Gap, Mr. Kerian Smith; Founder, Mr. Green Africa, Prof. Amos Omamo; Director Research & Innovation at Meru University, Mr. Eddy Gitonga; Founder T-Bin; and Eric Munene – CEO and Founder Circularity.

Here are key take-outs from the panel session.

“Show people how to make money and everything else will flow. The big question is how we can use technology to change the attitude of all stakeholders to embrace circularity while also encourage a conducive environment for innovation. Hence leveraging digital technologies to support circular economy will benefit all stakeholders majorly in creating an income as well as work opportunities. Innovators in the circular economy requires to commercialize their ideas.” – Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Director Youth, Jobs and Ajira Digital at KEPSA.

“Waste is wealth and where we find value we have to take the opportunity. It is therefore important to collaborate in this area and ride on each other’s expertise to find the value in waste management. To achieve this, we need digital technologies to help in the coordination. Hence digitization brings efficiency and coordination through data management that advises the ecosystem. It also helps in amplifying awareness on the need for waste reduction and waste management.” - Mary Ngechu, KEPSA Director in SMEs and Start-Ups and CEO Taka ni Mali.

“At the university, we have developed a low carbon cement to reduce on carbon footprint under the Decarbonization agenda within the university. We are also trying to come up with solutions in tree planting by using technologies such as Internet of Things to help in traceability. Hence, there is need to empower the innovation hubs including those at the institutions of higher learning in order to spur growth of these ideas to start-ups promoting circularity.” – Prof. Amos Omamo, Director Research & Innovation, Meru University.

“Emerging technologies and innovations continue to facilitate increase productivity and create jobs. AI technologies are now helping with the smart bins where they use the technology to separate the waste. The Internet of Things has also helped in coming up with sensors to weigh the wastes collected and manage the compensations. In addition, they are used to measure trends as well as set targets for waste management firms.” – Eddy Gitonga, Founder, T-Bin.

“Working in the commodity space, the businesses need to ask themselves of where their raw materials are coming from and do a background check to ensure they are free from issues on labour exploitations. Given that the waste management is a very informal sector but digital technologies and innovations will help bring more traceability to the system and an inclusives way of becoming more part of the system for all stakeholders. Technology improves efficiency and helps big brand owners to make key decisions and rely on the raw materials without fear.” - Keiran Smith, Founder, Mr.Green.

“The fisheries projects in the coast region for example has resulted in solar based fridges that can be mounted on bodabodas while shipping them to the market which has resulted in reduction on fish getting spoilt and wastage. Hence, there are a lot of innovations advised by society challenges which are turned into circular solutions and eventually boosting innovation and job creation. Digital technologies facilitates these innovations and also an opportunity to access more jobs.” -  CTG Kenya CEO - Olivier Vanden Eynde

“Coming from Dandora, the sticking dumpsite in the area bothered me a lot pushing me to think of how best to manage the smell. It was worse when they had to burn the waste to get metal residues which meant that our school uniforms smelled smoke all through the day in class. It probed me to innovate the first bins which would collect the plastic bottles and worked with Coca Cola in sorting out the bottles and the lids and would be rewarded for it. This was a confirmation of proof of concept as an important solution in the society and hence it encouraged me to do more.” - Eric Munene – CEO and Founder Circularity

The Conference brought together key stakeholders, experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the globe to address the critical issues surrounding e-waste management and sustainable solutions. This was to help tackle the urgent challenges posed by e-waste. E-Waste is a waste stream that is expanding the quickest in the world since the improper handling of this waste pauses great threats to global public health as well as environmental and climate issues.