Technology startup Amitruck and waste management solutions provider Sanergy have announced a partnership to tackle waste management in Nairobi, Kenya.
Through the partnership, they have built an end-to-end value chain network of operations and efficient logistics that will collect, treat and convert two streams of waste: sanitation waste generated in low-income informal settlements with inadequate sanitation services and kitchen & agricultural waste from restaurants, market places and agricultural pack houses building a new model for city’s resilience through circular organic waste management.
The partnership will create more jobs in the economy. Sanergy has already created more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, whilst Amitruck has hired more than 5,000 drivers over two years.
Commenting during the partnership announcement, Sanergy Managing Director, Michael Lwoyelo said, “We are excited to be pioneering a sustainable waste management solution that will benefit the people, economy and restores our ecosystem. Our next big goal is to expand here in Nairobi, and then replicate our model across the country and in Africa.”
Sanergy removes more than 12,000 tons of waste every year and upcycles it into end-products such as organic fertilizer, insect-based protein for animal feed and biomass briquettes used as clean fuel.
This circular economy solution addresses multiple challenges: environmental pollution by sanitation waste that is improperly disposed off, low agricultural yields due to declining soil fertility and increasing greenhouse gas emissions from open dumping of waste.
In addition, innovative logistics solutions for waste collection, using Amitruck’s digital marketplace of vehicles and drivers, more effectively managing fleets and the transport of goods, are accelerating the transition to more sustainable cities.
Mark Mwangi, Amitruck CEO commented, “With more than 5,000 drivers, we are proud to be partnering with Sanergy and its community to enable a circular economy benefiting the environment, health, people and greener cities. Due to its innovative digital marketplace, Amitruck accelerates the transition to more sustainable logistics, allowing existing fleets of vehicles to be used a lot more efficiently for positive impact.”
Sanergy and Amitruck believe that scaling and replicating the closed loop circular economy approach in other cities in Kenya and beyond is key to strengthen fragile systems. These are waste management, production of agriculture inputs and to build resilient cities where residents are healthy and prosperous, citing that it is imperative to forge partnerships with government stakeholders and other sector players to scale and serve more citizens and businesses with professional services. In particular, the government plays a critical role in creating and improving the regulatory framework that sees these novel models thrive.
Generating more than 80% of the world’s GDP, cities are major drivers of economic growth and as urbanization and waste production increases, these cities are faced with the challenge of how to manage their waste effectively.
Most of the solid waste generated is disposed off in landfills and open-air sites causing serious risks to public health and the environment. This worsensclimatic conditions as seen during drought and floods, which threaten the lives and livelihoods of many people.
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