Hazardous Waste Watch & Advocacy
We advocate for a better disposal of toxic wastes approved in accordance with International and Kenyan laws and supported by all stakeholders. Our associates have extensive knowledge on heavy metals contamination in the environment – soils and water. They have led many investigations on lead contamination and waste management. They have engaged government and industries to work together to manage hazardous waste in accordance with the Basel Convention and the Bamako Accords. CEA is among the leaders in investigations and advocacy for better handling of hazardous wastes.
Since 2008, Centre for Environmental Action (CEA) primary focus has been advocacy work against industrial polluters particularly secondary lead smelters. These illicit crude operators usually masquerade as scrap metal dealers. The organization has conducted several workshops for East Africa and local authorities as well as for general public to raise awareness on the dangers of heavy metal wastes. We have organized many workshops for local authority officers, community awareness forums and public complaints committees on environmental pollution.
The East African region has two lead battery manufacturers in Nairobi and Kampala, who both produce about 30% of the East African market requirement. Recently Tanzania has licensed one battery manufacturer entity by a Chinese investor that is producing for the same market while exporting processed lead to China. The local manufacturers use locally acquired raw material from recycling spent- lead-Acid-batteries (SLABs). They acquire these materials through a process of collection of SLABs from garages, homes through scrap metal dealers. The three battery manufacturers are totally dependent on the local sources of lead from SLABS.
In this program we were supported the Stockholm Convention Secretariat and IPEN.org
