Vihiga: A grassroots recycling initiative in Jepkos village, Gisambai Ward, Vihiga County, is offering a new lease of life for waste materials while promoting sustainable agriculture. Maragrow Limited, a project founded by local farmer Oliver Sissey, began operations just two weeks ago and has already processed several truckloads of waste delivered by the County Government of Vihiga.
According to Kenya News Agency, at the project site, 25 local workers manually sort garbage into reusable and organic materials. Plastic bottles are repurposed for packaging, while the high-density polythene used for packaging sugar by sugar processing companies is used in seedling germination. Organic waste, on the other hand, is transformed into compost manure.
'We make use of what many consider useless,' said Sissey, noting that the affordable organic fertiliser benefits his farm and others in the community. While the initiative has drawn praise for its environmental impact and job creation, Sissey highlights ongoing challenges, particularly the risks of handling mixed waste, and is calling on residents to sort waste at the source to improve safety and recycling efficiency.
The initiative is seen as a model for climate-smart agriculture and community-led waste management, aligning with broader county sustainability goals.