PETCO, Kenya’s industry body for the manufacturers and retailers of plastic bottled goods, has unveiled five drop-off sites in Nairobi. The drop-off sites will allow shoppers in the city to return products such as plastic, shampoo and glass bottles to the recycling partners.
As a member of PETCO, Naivas Supermarkets represented by its head of administration Mr. Gilbert Mbuthia while speaking at the Capital Centre Shopping Complex where the firm is the anchor retailer observed: “We are proud to be the first Kenyan Supermarket to promote collection and recycling of PET plastic bottles in the country.” He added that as a company, Naivas values packaging and believes that as the first point of contact between manufactures and consumers, it has a responsibility to raise awareness on how to recycle products. “We encourage our shoppers and the general public to embrace this noble and environmentally friendly initiative.”
On his part PETCO Kenya chairman John Waithaka said that the drop-off points would offer consumers a solution for a disposal site for their recyclable items most of which are currently ending up in dumpsites. “These drop-sites will allow our recycling partners to receive uncontaminated plastic bottles and other fractions for them to be able to manufacture new products such as polyester fibre, brush bristles, water tanks and composite building boards,” said Mr. Waithaka. “In line with our core strategy for 2019, which is to stimulate the collection and recycling of post-consumer PET packaging, aside from Capital Centre, we will be setting up similar sites at Two Rivers Mall, Shell Petrol station on Argwings Kodhek Road, South End Mall and Ciata Mall,” he added.
Moving forward, PETCO is planning to run activation with the Kenya Residents Association in a residential area in Nairobi to create consumer awareness on sound disposal practices.