Across Kenya’s cities, towns and rural landscapes, the sight and the stench of unmanaged waste has become all too familiar. From the towering mounds at Nairobi’s Dandora dumpsite to the plastic-choked drains of Mombasa and Kisumu, solid waste stands out as one of the country’s most pressing and visible development challenges. At its core lies a complex interplay of policy gaps, inadequate infrastructure, missed economic opportunities and serious public health risks. As Kenya advances towards rapid urbanization, industrial growth and climate-conscious development, the way we manage waste will shape far more than the cleanliness of our surroundings. It will influence our environmental resilience, the wellbeing of our people and the inclusivity of our economy. With population growth accelerating and consumption patterns shifting, the need to rethink and reform solid waste management has never been more urgent. Addressing this challenge begins with understanding the current realities of waste generation and disposal in Kenya. This includes examining the evolving policies, technologies and community-driven initiatives already underway, as well as identifying the bold, practical interventions needed to transform solid waste from a growing crisis into a cornerstone of sustainable development. Solid waste refers to all discarded materials considered unwanted or useless, in solid or semi-solid form, excluding liquids and gases, and typically generated from human activities. It is commonly known as trash or garbage. Solid waste can be categorized based on its source and composition.