War on toxic waste disposal 9, factory closed

Nine people have been arrested and four factories have been closed indefinitely in Nairobi for failing to comply with waste disposal regulations.

The National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) Tuesday morning cracked down on their waste disposal facilities without pre-treating them.

DANGEROUS

The companies that were closed were Daima milk producers, Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Ltd., Chloride Exide Kenya Ltd., Synresins Ltd and Ennsvalley Bakery Ltd.

Speaking during the crackdown, Acting Director General Nema Mamo B. Memo said: "We will continue this exercise to ensure that our rivers are clean and that the facilities responsible for hazardous disposal are closed. The standard is very clear. "

Among those arrested yesterday were Daima Operations Manager Kenneth Kareithi, Chloride Exide General Manager Karanja Njoroge, Ennsvalley Bakery Quality Assurance Manager Sylvia Ndung'u, Synreins Mira Shah's Chief Executive and Synresins Production Manager Michael Mungai.


The crackdown followed Nation's exposure to the Nairobi River pollution, which was found to contain hazardous substances such as lead, copper and mercury.

"Nema has identified 122 disposal points along the Nairobi River," Mamo said.

"From the inspections conducted, 50 percent of the companies have complied. Ongoing inspection is to ensure the remaining companies comply with the 2006 Water Quality Regulations, or they will be closed and their officials prosecuted. "

Nema has so far raided 53 facilities based in Nairobi that use the wet process in their operations. Eight closed this week.

DUST SUCKER

Mr Mamo said the crackdown would extend to the disposal of waste from households along the Nairobi River after industrial repression.

The crackdown revealed that, while Daima owned a processing plant, he did not treat all of his waste before it was discharged into the sewer system or the environment.

Meanwhile, Synresins does not have a processing plant, while Chloride Exide treats its waste in a separate facility.

But Nairobi's Nema District Environment Director Njoki Mukiri said all waste from industrial facilities must be treated before disposal.

Synresins and Chloride Exide, both of which handle industrial chemicals, are categorized as high-risk facilities.

Mr Njoroge, general manager of Chloride Exide, however, defended their operation, saying they treated their waste with soda ash and sent it to a storage tank inside where they stored their waste, which was then transported to a separate treatment facility on the Athi River.

Synresins, for its part, says it does not release toxins into the environment or the sewer system but has a disposal that is collected by exhauster every month.