(Nakuru govenor Lee Kinyanjui. Photo/Standard.)
County government of Nakuru has partnered with Greenbelt movement to improve solid waste management at the Gioto dumpsite in Nakuru town.
The devolved unit had promised to relocate the dumpsite but due to unavailability of suitable land for its relocation, it will not be relocated.
County government and Green Belt movement will work with other private garbage collectors to recycle waste into organic fertilizer.
The congested dumpsite is situated on top Menengai hill.
During heavy rainy rains, flood waters and garbage overrun the adjacent Nakuru - Kabarak - Eldama Ravine Road rendering the road impassable.
Sammy Kimani, county director of environment said plans are underway to set buffer greenery foliage around the dumpsite.
Kimani noted that they aim to prevent the spillover of garbage to the road and adjacent estates.
He added that the county plans to demarcate the site into portions where recyclable and biodegradable waste will be dumped separately.
“The foliage buffer zone will be set up to slow the flow of rain water from this garbage site downstream and into Lake Nakuru to save the lake fromdisintegration", he said.
Kimani said an average 20 tons of garbage consisting of plastic paper bags, is removed from the lake annually.
He said it poses environmental and health dangers but the county government is committed to ensure the problems of garbage is a past tense.