Although the companies were in different ways recognized by or working with the government, the differences in contracts or recognition are contributing to an already complex waste environment where many actors are involved. Lacking an overall responsible actor and clear guidelines from the government slows down potential progress that could be made if the companies had a clear framework to work within, also including how the informal actors should be involved. As suggested by the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) framework, the role and inclusion of stakeholders are crucial for a functioning system. The waste system in Nairobi would benefit from a clear inclusion of the private companies and
establishing their role in waste management, how they can collaborate among themselves and with the local government. To further include the inhabitants in Nairobi, the waste generators, what they consider important and feasible for them, could contribute to a more seamless system, based on the needs and opinions of everyone included, not only the government. As mentioned in chapter 7.1, a clear strategy on the public-private relationship lacks in the national and local policies, and further experienced in practice by the companies. Currently, the system is complex, which slows down its progress, despite many actors working on improving the SWM situation in Nairobi.
The companies all feel like their work is needed and there is a demand for their services, and that this demand is growing as awareness around waste and the environment is becoming more common. However, the complexity of the waste environment can make it difficult for people to understand what they should do or who they can contact, which further underlines the need to create a simpler and more inclusive system that will facilitate an easy disposal system that will encourage people to dispose of their waste properly rather than discourage them. Studies on behavior and waste management have found that the more demanding or time consuming a task is, e.g., having to drive somewhere to be able to properly dispose of a specific type of waste, the more discouraged people are to comply (Mintz, Henn, Park, & Kurman, 2019).
Therefore, facilitation for easy disposal is important, which means the government and the private companies have to work together.
From the interviews with the waste companies, it became clear that they work with all the waste system elements of the ISWM framework except generation and reduction. Collection, transfer and transport, reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment, and disposal are all included in the mandates of the companies, although they cover different elements in the different companies.
This a common feature in developing countries and has also been found in other parts of Kenya, such as Eldoret and Mombasa (Maloba, 2012; Ombaba et al., 2014). However, the focus of all the companies extends beyond collection to recovering and recycling as much as possible, to contribute to increasing the low recycling rate in Kenya, which, as previously mentioned, is currently around 5%. Looking further than only collection and disposal is crucial for a sustainable future where waste is considered a resource to be included in the economy.
The amount collected and treated by the private companies varied, with the maximum reported amount was 1000 tons per month. Only four companies were interviewed for this study, and
the numbers are therefore not representative for the entire private sector, however with a large amount not collected every day and a large amount reaching landfills and dumpsites, there is a gap between how much waste is generated and how much private companies manage to collect and treat every day. At up to 3000 tons of waste generated per day, or around 90.000 tons per month, there is still a significant amount of waste that potentially can be collected, recycled, or otherwise reused, but changes in the current SWM system and how waste is collected are needed to achieve that. Private companies undeniably contribute positively to the waste environment in Nairobi; they have the knowledge, skills, and equipment necessary for SWM.
However, coming back to the previously mentioned point, there is an urgent need for a clear PPP strategy or framework for private companies to map the way ahead. The companies themselves requested more collaboration with both the government and other actors, something that could potentially contribute to improved services and growth within the private companies.
Avoiding collaboration and letting the private companies work in a free market could have some negative effects such a monopoly, high prices, and no regulations to protect workers and the environment (Post & Obirih-Opareh, 2003). To successfully include the private sector, the government needs to be involved and to establish the rules within which the private sector works. It is also important that the government is involved in the pricing of services because people living in poor neighborhoods and slums are not able to pay the same prices for services as people in rich neighborhoods, and therefore are likely to have poorer services available, especially if the private companies are allowed to work without governmental intervention. It is important that decisions are made on the level of privatization necessary to create a balance between the private and the public that is beneficial. Furthermore, some companies work with informal actors, although there is no legislation deciding how their work conditions should be, meaning that there could be child labor involved, the workers could be in direct contact with dangerous chemicals and materials, and the environment is not necessarily considered in the waste collection process.
The issues experienced by the companies regarding performing their work were varied, but also similar issues were experienced by the different companies. Lacking technology and financial resources negatively affect the possibility to perform solid waste management services, and consequently might prevent companies from expanding their services. Obamba et al. (2014) found similar experiences in private companies in Eldoret Town, Kenya, who contributed positively to the waste management in Eldoret, but also because of lacking
resources and technology, were prevented from further expanding their businesses and contribute even more in managing the town’s waste.
The inclusion of informal actors and their role in the general waste environment is a very important subject because the informal actors play a major role in waste management in Kenya and in developing countries in general. There is no doubt that the informal waste pickers contribute significantly to reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill in Kenya, but the relationship between the private companies and the waste pickers is complicated. In the ISWM framework, stakeholders are of key importance, and therefore, it is necessary that all stakeholders are included when new policies, frameworks, and regulations are formulated. This includes formal and informal actors, as well as the general population, both rich and poor.
Including all stakeholders in the policy formation processes will also be a fundamental point for the establishment of sustainable, inclusive SWM systems in the future.