By Jameson Mutua
The Government of Kenya has been urged to adopt ambitious refill and reuse targets to curb the growing threat of single-use plastics and accelerate the shift toward sustainable packaging systems that protect the environment while unlocking new economic opportunities.
Speaking during the launch of the inaugural Refill and Reuse Festival at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead for the Pan African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, said scaling up refill and reuse models could create jobs and ease the financial burden of plastic pollution on governments and taxpayers.
“Refill and reuse systems are not new to Africa. They are rooted in our culture and have existed for generations. What is new is the invasion of single-use plastics pushed by corporations prioritising profit over people and planet. Governments must invest in refill infrastructure and set clear targets that make reuse the norm, not the exception,” Dena said.
She added that throwaway culture carries enormous costs: “Countries spend billions of dollars to clean up drainage systems, build incinerators, clean rivers, and address health expenses linked to plastic pollution.”
The two-day festival brings together local communities, civil society organisations, policymakers, manufacturers and innovators to showcase refill and reuse solutions available in Kenya, while creating space for policy dialogue on opportunities and challenges of scaling sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
Gerance Mutwol, Plastics Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, said recycling alone is insufficient.
“Recycling is a distraction that allows corporations to keep producing more plastic while shifting responsibility to consumers and governments. Plastics persist in the environment throughout their lifecycle, leaching harmful chemicals into our soil, water and bodies,” he said.
“Refill and reuse systems prevent plastic pollution at the source. They conserve resources, create jobs and protect public health. This is an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity that governments can no longer ignore.”
Running under the theme “Experience, Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All,” the festival invites families, schools, artists and innovators to engage with hands-on refill stations, zero-waste exhibitions, and children’s upcycling art competitions. Day Two will feature live music, poetry, storytelling circles and an interactive refill challenge with prizes.
Organisers say the event aims to make sustainability accessible and engaging, showcasing practical and affordable alternatives to the continent’s growing throwaway culture, solutions that align closely with African values of community, sharing and resourcefulness.
Admission is free on both days.
