Eddie Gitonga a Kenyan innovator, has come up with a garbage bin innovation that not only provides a place for dumping waste but also has free wifi for everyone to enjoy, inbuilt CCTV, a smart screen that can be used for information delivery and educating people in schools, hospitals, airports etc and also provides street lighting powered by a solar panel.
The bin has two compartments, one marked in blue which will be used for plastics and glass disposals and the green one for organic wastes. Both compartments have a capacity of 150 kgs.
It also has an inbuilt voice that instructs you where to throw the different types of wastes.
Named T-bin, this new innovation has odour-reducing technology and inbuilt fans that will eliminate foul smells coming from the dumped waste.
In order to preserve the environment, Gitonga says the plastics and glass waste will be recycled while the organic waste will be used to make fertilizers and animal feeds.
This innovation is also set to create job opportunities in Kenya.
“Two lorries will be used to pick up wastes from the bins, one blue lorry will collect glass and plastics while the green one will pick up the organic wastes. Also, people will be hired to man the bins during the day and at night,” stated Gitonga
Gitonga also urged the county government to purchase these garbage bins for their counties. He also advises the youth to tap into their creativity and never give up on their dreams because he started this project 8 years ago and not once did he give up.
According to National Waste Management Policy, waste management is a major challenge in Kenya, especially in rapidly growing urban metropolises and coastal areas. Nairobi for example produces around 2,400 tons of waste every day, of which only 38 per cent is collected and less than 10 per cent recycled.
The remaining 62 per cent is disposed of at the uncontrolled Dandora dumpsite, illegally dumped on roadsides and waterways, or burned releases toxic air emissions and particulate matter.
Illegal dumping and burning are particularly common in low-income areas of the city, which are home to over 2.5 million people who cannot afford waste collection services.
