Nairobi, Kenya. Greenpeace Africa has renewed its call for the Government of Kenya to set strong refill and reuse targets as a long-term solution to the negative effects of single-use plastics. This appeal was made during the launch of the first Refill and Reuse Festival at the National Museums of Kenya. Environmentalists, policymakers, and innovators gathered to show practical and sustainable alternatives.
Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead for the Pan African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, pointed out that refill and reuse systems are common practices in African cultures. She argued that the rise of single-use plastics is a recent issue driven by companies focusing on profit over the well-being of people and the environment.
“Refill and reuse systems are not new to Africa. They are part of our culture and have been around for ages. What is new is the influx of single-use plastics pushed by corporations,” Dena stated. She highlighted the need for governments to build the right infrastructure and set clear targets that make reuse the norm. “Throwaway culture costs a lot. Countries spend billions every year on cleaning drains, building incinerators, clearing rivers, and dealing with health issues related to plastic pollution,” she added.
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Gerance Mutwol, a Plastics Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, supported this view, saying that recycling alone won’t solve the problem. “Recycling is a distraction that lets companies keep producing more plastic while shifting the responsibility to consumers and governments,” he said. He stressed that refill and reuse systems are the best way to stop pollution at the source while also creating jobs, saving resources, and protecting public health.
The two-day festival, themed “Experience, Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All,” aims to show that zero-waste options are practical, affordable, and in line with African values of community, creativity, and resourcefulness. Attendees can engage with hands-on refill stations, zero-waste exhibitions, children’s upcycling art competitions, live music, poetry sessions, storytelling circles, and an interactive refill challenge with prizes.
Organizers say the festival is designed to make sustainability accessible and engaging, motivating communities to adopt refill and reuse practices in their everyday lives. Admission is free for all participants.
