TRADE AND RECYCLING OF URBAN INORGANIC SOLID WASTE IN NAIROBI 181
compensation for factory injuries have been foiled in the past through bribery and
deals between government officers from the Ministry of Labour and the factory
owners Factory regulations concerning the disposal of factory waste and sanitation are
also flouted, due to poor enforcement mechanisms and corruption of government
inspectors
Small-scale metal recycling
In his study on garbage collectors, Odegi-Awuondo (1994) found that scrap metal was
one of the most popular items collected, second only to paper. Earlier on we have
observed the popularity of scrap iron amongst the collection and trade actors and also
that it is one of the waste materials recycled both at large and small-scale levels.
Small-scale metal recycling
We selected a sample of small-scale metal recyclers from a cluster of scrap metal
workers at Kamukunji, a place about two kilometres from the city centre.
Kamukunji metal recycling enterprises came into being in 1978 when some artisans
were evicted from their site on Grogan road to pave way for the construction of a
housing estate. Others came in from the nearby Burma market and from other parts of
the country to start small-scale businesses. These artisans later requested land from the
government and obtained tentative allocation in 1985 after the District Commissioner
(DC) quashed an eviction order by the NCC. Kamukunji gained government recogni-
tion in 1986 when the president ordered the construction of sheds to protect the
workers from the harsh sun (jua kali). He also advised artisans to form associations
through which government could channel assistance^17. It was then that the Kamukunji
Figure 8.5. Scrap metal recovery and recycling chain in NairobiGenerator - roll mills,
construction sites, metal
fabricators, HHsDumpsitesItinerant buyers Waste pickersDealerEMCO, Roll Mill,
Kamukunji SSREs Morris and Co. Ltd.