TRADE AND RECYCLING OF URBAN INORGANIC SOLID WASTE IN NAIROBI 183
Small-scale metal recyclers largely depend on familial and informal sources of credit.
The only institutional sources of credit are NGOs like KREP, which loans to groups
based on the Grameen model. Many entrepreneurs consider the amounts loaned too
small especially because they are not sufficient to procure capital goods and in their
view have only helped them increase their already excessive stock^20. This suggests
that the entrepreneurs are aware of the investments necessary for growth but lack the
means to make these. Some of the machines used require as much as Ksh. 100,000
(US$ 1,500), way out of the reach of these enterprises.
Waste materials usage
Small metal recycling enterprises use waste materials because they are cheaper^21 , as
86 percent of the entrepreneurs said. Materials are obtained from foundries and rolling
mills in the industrial area via dealers They are also obtained from retail shops located
nearKamukunji. A small number of the enterprises obtain some of the waste materials
from waste pickers^22. Steel sheets, iron and aluminium metal obtained from metal fabri-
cation factories in the industrial areas are the most commonly used materials. The virgin
materials consist of metal sheets, galvanized iron, tin plates and aluminium. These are
more expensive and only small quantities are used. Over 50 percent of the enterprises
do not use any virgin materials. The types of waste materials and the proportion of
enterprises using them are detailed on the table below.
- It is clearly acknowledged among the entrepreneurs that large stock does not necessarily ensure higher
sales and thus has little impact on earnings. - Elsewhere in this discussion it is shown that this was previously the case but has now changed and has
become one of the major problems faced by these enterprises. - Tin cans used to make paraffin lamps obtained from fuel stations are purchased from waste pickers
Table 8.4. Types and number of enterprises using waste materialsType of waste material No. enterprises using Percent
Metal bars
Steel sheets
Scrap Iron
Aluminium
Used tyres
Metal drums
Plastic drums
Shoes and soles
Leather
4
20
13
13
3
4
2
1
112
61
39
39
9
12
6
3
3Note: responses totalling over 100 percent due to multiple responses (N=33)