| dc.description.abstract | In this thesis, the researcher presents the findings of a survey on the recycling of plastic
wastes in Kenya. The study was carried out between April 2000 and April 2001. The
main aim of the study was to find the factors behind low recycling of plastic wastes in
Kenya.
General literature on plastics and their various recycling aspects was reviewed. It was
found out that plastic packaging has the shortest useful life span compared to other
categories of plastic applications. The study was limited to plastic packaging materials as
follows: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The primary, secondary and tertiary
plastic waste recycling technologies of the above was reviewed.
The research design was a qualitative survey where stratified sampling was used to obtain
samples from the list of plastic processing industries as contained in Kenya's Directory of
Industries 1998. An interview schedule in the form of an industrial questionnaire was the
principal research instrument, which was administered to a selection of plastic processing
firms. In addition to the industrial questionnaire, face-to-face and telephone interviews,
and direct observation were used as methods of data collection. Both qualitative and
quantitative data was collected with forty questionnaires being satisfactorily filled. The
data was then analyzed and presented in the form of tables, figures, bar charts, pie charts,
and photographs or in prose form.
The study found out that Kenya currently recycles about 9000 tons of post-consumer
plastic wastes per annum with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and PVC as the
main polymers recycled. These polymers are mainly used in manufacturing of rigid
packaging containers, Most of the recycling activities, especially of post consumer plastic
wastes, are carried out in the informal sector. Only the mechanical recycling option is
practiced due to lack of other appropriate recycling technologies. Most of the recycling
activities are carried out manually and where equipment is used, they are not designed for
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effective recycling. Over 92 per cent of the interviewed firms carry out primary recycling
of their internally generated wastes under 'free market' conditions.
In future, improvement in the general conditions for plastic recycling is expected due to
regulations and other measures in preparation. These measures include improvement in
the environment for recycling of not only plastic wastes but also other industrial wastes
as entrenched in the constitution as Environment Management and Coordination Act of
1999. Other measures include voluntary agreements and contracts between the
government and the packaging industry.
For further improvement of recycling of plastic wastes various recommendations have
been suggested in this study to the main players in plastic recycling industry. It was
recommended that the government put in place appropriate policies for enhanced
recycling. The main policies it should target are as follows; awareness creation, provision
of relevant incentives and putting in place appropriate legislative and regulatory
measures. It has been further recommended that the plastic industry practice design for
recycling when designing their plastic products for effective recycling of the resulting
wastes. The main areas that it should target during the design process include; selection
of recyclable materials, material compatibility and material identification. And finally it
has been recommended that the recycling industry perform necessary process
modifications for effective recycling operations. Main areas they should target in their
process modifications include; property testing of recycled product, effective mixing of
the melt and recycling process monitoring. | en |
