National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has cautioned garbage transporters against operating without a license.
NEMA, in a notice to collectors, said several rogue companies are operating without a valid license.
“The Environmental Management & Coordination Act 1999 (Revised 2015) and EMCA Waste Management Regulations 2006 Section 87 (2) require that waste transporters be licensed by NEMA.”
“The Authority has noted that some waste transporters argue that since they had been licensed by the County Governments, they do not need the NEMA license. This is illegal”
Environment and Land court in a ruling delivered in 2022, asserted that a NEMA license is mandatory for all waste transporters.
“The Authority seeks to bring to your attention that the Environment and Land court in Nairobi Petition 3 of 2021 on 3rd August, 2022 ruled that the waste transportation license issued by NEMA is a mandatory requirement for all waste transporters. (Paragraph 142-143).“
Failure to adhere to this, NEMA says, the company’s management and staff could be arrested and prosecuted for operating without a valid waste transportation license.
This comes after numerous complaints of garbage trucks dumping waste in undesignated areas.