NAIROBI, Kenya – To reduce harmful single-use plastics and move towards environmentally friendly, economically viable packaging systems, the Kenyan government has been urged to establish ambitious refill and reuse goals.
Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead, Pan African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, stated that improving refill and reuse models has the potential to create jobs while lowering the hidden costs of plastic pollution that burden governments and taxpayers during the opening of the first Refill and Reuse Festival at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi.
According to Dena, refill and reuse systems are not new to Africa.
“They are rooted in our culture and have existed since time immemorial. 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 added.
Dena further observed that the throwaway culture is expensive.
“Countries spend billions of dollars to clean up drainage systems, build incinerators, clean rivers, and cover health expenses linked to plastic pollution,” she added.
Who is attending the first Refill and Reuse Festival
The two-day festival brings together local communities, civil society organisations, policymakers, manufacturers, and innovators to showcase refill and reuse options available in Kenya while creating space for policy discussions on the opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
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Greenpeace Africa is an independent campaigning organisation that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions essential to a green and peaceful future.
The organisation campaigns to protect Africa’s biodiversity, promote renewable energy, end plastic pollution, and hold corporations and governments accountable for environmental destruction.
Why do experts feel that recycling is a distraction
Speaking at the same time, Gerance Mutwol, Plastics Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, said 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.” “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 economic opportunity that governments can no longer ignore,” Mutwol explained.
The two-day festival runs on the theme “Experience, Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All.” Families, schools, artists, and innovators are invited to engage with hands-on refill stations, zero-waste exhibitions, and children’s upcycling art competitions.
The 2nd day will also feature live music performances, poetry sessions, storytelling circles, and an interactive refill challenge with prizes for participants. Organisers say the festival is designed to make sustainability accessible and engaging, demonstrating that alternatives to throwaway plastic culture are practical, affordable, and aligned with African values of community and resourcefulness. Admission is free on both days.
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