Bikes that Haul Trash

An estimated 8 million people in Kenya live in informal settlements, or what many people commonly think of as slums. The accumulation of trash in these communities is a major hurdle to development, polluting water supplies and attracting insects and rodents that spread disease.

Addressing this problem requires collaboration across agencies, nonprofits, and local residents to change attitudes and behaviors about waste disposal and recycling. An important component of the solution involves establishing a system to collect and transport waste from individual dwellings to central deposit sites, where it can be sorted for recycling and disposal. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate roads and high cost of motorized vehicles make the transport of trash with cars or trucks impossible.