Mombasa’s Struggle Against Plastic Pollution is a Global Crisis

The global plastic Pollution crisis is escalating at an alarming rate, with 400 million tonnes of plastic produced annually. This figure is expected to triple by 2050, yet only 9% of plastic is currently recycled. The impact of this crisis is starkly visible in cities like Mombasa, Kenya, where plastic waste is causing severe environmental and social issues.

Source: Al Jazeera English/YouTube

In Mombasa, the Mtopanga River, once a robust waterway, is now reduced to a narrow, polluted stream. Layers of plastic waste have choked the river, causing frequent floods and obstructing access to clean water. The limited waste management infrastructure in the city exacerbates the problem, with no regular rubbish collections and insufficient sewers.

Efforts by local organizations like Blue Ventures and COMRED aim to restore the river and alleviate Mombasa’s chronic water shortage. However, these initiatives face significant challenges. Wealthier residents sometimes resort to burning waste, releasing toxic fumes into the air, while sporadic clean-ups fail to provide a lasting solution.

The situation is critical, with Mombasa generating 900 tonnes of waste daily, far exceeding the city’s infrastructure capacity. This overwhelming volume of waste affects not only the river but also the underground aquifers, essential for the city’s water supply. Only 600,000 of Mombasa’s 1.5 million residents have access to mains water, forcing authorities to source water from neighboring counties at considerable cost.

Globally, the urgency to address plastic Pollution is highlighted by the recent United Nations Global Plastics Treaty talks in Ottawa. Despite the critical nature of these negotiations, progress is hindered by fossil fuel lobbyists and countries with vested interests in continuing plastic production. These entities resist measures to reduce plastic production, focusing instead on the non-essential plastics that contribute significantly to environmental degradation.

The upcoming talks in Busan, South Korea, are crucial. Environmental groups and several countries have launched the Bridge to Busan declaration, urging negotiators to tackle the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal. The stakes are high, with the future of our planet’s health and ecosystems hanging in the balance.

As Christina Dixon of the Environmental Investigation Agency notes, without a significant reduction in plastic production, managing plastic waste will remain an insurmountable challenge. The global community must unite to create sustainable solutions and ensure a cleaner, healthier future for all.

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