From the left; Josphine Kawira(DRC), Hellen Chege(DRC), Yasin Abukar(My-Plastics Ltd.), Richard Kainika (KAWR), Dr. Sameer Joshi( IPI), Shabbir Noormohamed(My-Plastics Ltd.),Joan Maitai( DRC), Sharang Ambadkar (IPI).
Kenya Association of Waste Recyclers (KAWR) was honored to hold a working meeting with the Indian Plastics Institute (IPI) at the Double Tree by Hilton along Ngong Road, Nairobi. Registered in 1985, IPI is a professional body that brings together experts, industry players, and students involved in plastics and polymer technology. It focuses on strengthening skills through training, technical courses, seminars, and industry–academia collaboration. The institute also contributes to standardization efforts, quality control, and public awareness on plastics, their applications, and recyclability.
Also present at the meeting were representatives from the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Kenya and My Plastics Limited.
The meeting concentrated on the shared objectives between KAWR and IPI—specifically opportunities and challenges within Kenya’s waste-management sector. Dr. Sameer Joshi, Chairman of the Indian Plastics Institute and a respected expert in plastic sustainability with over 30 years of experience, shared insights on India’s progress in plastic circularity. India has made notable strides by applying its strong technological capacity to develop solutions for low-value and hard-to-recycle plastics, including multilayer laminates. Through IPI’s work, such materials have been transformed into products such as planks, plywood alternatives, benches, tiles, and other utilities that replace higher-carbon-footprint materials. These solutions were further demonstrated by Mr. Sharang Ambadkar, a member of the IPI Environment & Ecology Committee and Sustainable Solutions for All.
This discussion was particularly relevant to Kenya, where hard-to-recycle packaging materials remain a persistent challenge. While local efforts exist, many of them require scaling to meet national needs.
From the left Richard Kainika (KAWR), Sharang Ambadkar (IPI), Shabbir Noormohamed (My-Plastics Ltd.), Joan Maitai ( DRC), Josphine Kawira (DRC), Hellen Chege (DRC), Kaguchia Anthony (KAWR), Yasin Abukar(My-Plastics Ltd.), Dr. Sameer Joshi( IPI).
India’s well-established Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework also provides valuable insights. Its structure has supported the recycling ecosystem while considering the economic realities of different categories of enterprises. With Kenya’s renewed momentum following the lifting of the order affecting EPR implementation on 20th November 2025, such international perspectives can inform the country’s evolving EPR practices and strengthen its approach to inclusive and efficient implementation.
KAWR and IPI expressed their commitment to developing a memorandum of understanding focused on technical knowledge exchange. With IPI’s long-standing expertise, Kenya stands to benefit from innovative and practical solutions suited to its waste-management landscape. Additionally, leveraging IPI’s global networks may help elevate Kenya’s visibility in international sustainability platforms. There was also interest in exploring opportunities for Kenya to host major global forums on plastics.
Dr. Sameer encouraged KAWR to expand regional collaboration with similar bodies across East Africa. He emphasized that cooperation in market development, knowledge exchange, and capacity building would strengthen regional sustainability efforts and enhance Kenya’s leadership profile within the circular economy space.
The forthcoming non-profit memorandum of understanding will provide a structured framework for partnership, aimed at raising the capabilities, capacities, and overall quality of Kenya’s waste-management sector. The Secretary General of KAWR, Mr. Richard Kainika, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working with institutions whose strategic objectives align with its mission of advancing sustainable waste management in the country.