A sprawling dumpsite in Nakuru town could be replaced by an integrated solid waste venture if plans by the county to engage development partners are successful.
The county government has a plan to establish a modern waste-recycling plant and commercial incinerator at the Gioto dumpsite located along the Nakuru-Eldama Ravine road.
The county executive member for Environment, Energy and Water, Richard Rop, on Monday said plans were underway to turn the dumpsite into an energy generating plant.
“The heaped rubbish is a potential source of power and the county will engage development partners to recycle the garbage into usable energy,” said Rop, adding that workers to collect the garbage will also be hired.
He said the county government has plans to seek donor funding from financial institutions like African Development Bank to roll out the plan and curb the increasing volume of solid waste.
The county secretary has already advertised for qualified companies to undertake the sanitary venture at the dump, which serves as the disposal site for the whole of Nakuru town and has been a health concern for residents, explained Rop.
Due to overuse, the garbage has spilt to the roadside, causing major discomfort to motorists and posing a health hazard to residents, he noted.
The business community has been vocal in calling for a lasting solution to the expanding dumpsite as it is an eyesore to investors.
Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua sees the heaped rubbish as a potential source of power and said that the county will engage development partners to recycle the garbage into usable energy.
“Doing away with the dumpsite will be a great relief to my people, especially those who live in Kaptembwa. It is a nightmare when it rains and the water flows downstream. You will find that stinking rubbish at their doorsteps,” said Nakuru west MP Samuel Arama.
Authorities from the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) have in the past raised alarm over the dumpsite.
“Finding an alternative piece of land is not easy because nobody wants to be near a dumping site. The best way is to find a solution that is environmentally friendly,” Nema Nakuru county director Wilfred Osumo said.