URBAN ORGANIC SOLID WASTE:PRACTICES IN NAIROBI 249
All composting groups appear to have acquired their knowledge through training, and
indigenous knowledge does not seem to be an important route. The Foundation for
Sustainable Development in Africa (FSDA) is an important training institution for
composting groups, but the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF), Uvumbuzi
Group, HABITAT and Kuku Women’s Group have also played noteworthy roles in
training and capacity building in the field of composting.
Wastes for composting are commonly obtained from households where the
composting outfits are located, or from nearby markets, local farms and firms as well
as from dumpsites. Ninety percent of compost units do not buy their wastes, but obtain
them free of charge.
Composting is a reclamation process, which involves activating and controlling the
biological fermentation of organic waste in order to obtain a product which can be
used as an agricultural soil conditioner. To obtain such a product, Nairobi composting
groups proceed by collecting organic materials, making of a compost pile, and
screening. All indicate close monitoring of the composting process to ensure high
quality of the end product.
Based on respondents’ figures, monthly expenditure on composting varies from as low
as Ksh. 50 (US$ 0.65) to as high as Ksh. 35,000 (US$ 455) per group per month,
whereas the estimated monthly compost output amounts to 700 kg to 5 tons per month.
The Mukuru Recycling Centre, one of the largest and more established of the
composting groups, reports a monthly turnover of 3-4 tons of compost produced from
6-8 tons of garbage (Mukuru Integrated Recycling Project, 1998). The MRC main-
tains at any one time a stock of over 6 tons of compost, which sells at Ksh. 10 (US$
0.13) per kg. The group uses some of the compost for growing vegetables, which are
sold in the market, but the main outlet is through individual farmers, who are their
main customers.
Composting groups in Nairobi have a variety of sources of finance, with the most
important being funding from local NGOs. Other significant sources of funding
include the group’s income and members’ contributions, funding from international
organisations and individual donors Most of the composting groups surveyed main-
tained that they have received inadequate assistance from public or private institu-
tions. As such, many of these composting groups had not achieved one of their major
objectives, that of being able to recompense their workers adequately. Investments in
composting were much higher than the earnings and this acted as a disincentive for
most of the group members.