Kira Municipality Launches Three-Bin System to Tackle Waste Crisis

Kira Municipality in Wakiso District has rolled out a new three-bin system designed to combat its escalating waste management challenges. This pilot project, currently distributing 300 sets of bins, seeks to encourage residents to sort their waste at the source.

The initiative divides household refuse into three categories: organic, recyclable, and sanitary. This separation is expected to streamline collection and disposal processes, which have been hampered by residents avoiding fees for private collection and resorting to illegal dumping.

Municipal Town Clerk Benon Yiga highlighted the global issue of waste mismanagement at the source, where mixing different waste types leads to pollution. He expressed optimism that this World Bank-funded project will resolve Kira’s long-standing garbage problem. The council is actively conducting community sensitization to educate residents on the benefits of the program.

“The pilot is going to be closely monitored and managed together with the generators of this waste, and the success stories shall now inform the expansion of the project to all the homes in Kira,” Yiga stated.

Markets have already been secured for the sorted waste. Organic waste is in high demand, particularly from private collectors. Recyclable materials like plastics will be sold directly to recycling firms, while sanitary waste will be sent to designated dumping sites in Mukono and Mpigi districts.

Outgoing Mayor Julius Mutebi encouraged residents who can afford the bins to purchase them independently, emphasizing the dual benefits of improved sanitation and potential income generation. He also urged the incoming leadership to support the initiative.

Kira, alongside Nansana Municipality, is planning to establish a recycling plant on 35 acres of land in Menvu, Busukuma Division.

Recent research from Makerere University in 2021 indicated that a significant portion of household waste in Kira, around 65 percent, is disposed of improperly, with only a small fraction being recycled. The town clerk hopes the new system will drastically improve these figures.

Source: This article was adapted from information provided by the Daily Monitor (Uganda).