Reducing unintentionally POPs (dioxins and furans) produced by informal economy

Our persistent organic pollutants project seeks to reduce unintentional POPs (dioxins and furans)

produced by the informal economy in Mombasa” through increasing the knowledge of artisans on POPs and building their capacity to reduce and eliminate dioxins and furans unintentionally produced through their actions. The project targets juakali artisans of Mombasa, extracting wires and metals from waste cables and tyre through open burning.   

Project description:

This project employs mapping out hot spots and stakeholders inventory keeping; public awareness and mass education; capacity building and information exchange in achieving the goals and objectives. The specific objectives of the projects include:

 

1. Undertaking inventory of dioxins and furans production hotspots in Mombasa and establish a data base.

1. Establishing a network of civil societies in Mombasa to advocate for municipal and national policy implementation on the reduction/elimination of dioxins and furans production.
2. Sensitization and educating the artisans in the informal sector and community based organizations of Mombasa town on POPs with specific reference to dioxins and furans.
3. Promotion of Best available technology and best environmental practices through demonstration of alternatives.
4. Building the capacity of EEIU-Kenya and partners on POPs reduction and elimination.

 

Project activities:

 

Mapping out dioxins and furans hotspots and stakeholder inventory development

1. Stakeholder analysis
2. Mobilization of the target groups
3. Baseline survey on dioxins and furans hot spot

Public awareness and education

1. Development of the awareness creation and education tools
2. Sensitization workshops
3. Onsite sensitizations campaigns
4. Bi-monthly POPs talk-series
5. Production of quarterly newsletter

 
Capacity building and information exchange

1. Development of training tools for each group
2. Training workshop for the stakeholders
3. Training of the artisans and youth groups
4. Setting up demonstration projects on BEPs and BATs

 

Approaches taken:

 

Baseline studies – this aims to map out POPs (especially dioxins and furans) hotspots in Mombasa, verify the use of heavy metals and other toxic wastes as e-wastes in Kenya specifically Mombasa and furthermore undertake stakeholder identification, analysis and inventory keeping.

Public awareness and education – to raise the consciousness of people about POPs, heavy metals and other chemicals used in consumer products through open forums, professional discussions, workshops and media discussions.

 

Promotion of best available technologies and best environmental practices – to demonstrate the practicability of the principles of substitution and alternatives in chemicals management proposed in the Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management (SAICM).

 

Lobbying for greener policies – by building a strong network of civil society organizations (CSOs) which campaigns and advocate for policies that enhance sound management of toxic waste and chemicals in order to protect the citizens, especially the vulnerable groups.