Kenya EPR Law: Producer Responsibility Now Required
- Kenya is implementing new Sustainable Waste Management regulations, officially known as Legal Notice no.176 of 2024, to overhaul the country's waste management practices.
- 4, 2024, the new rules require companies to register with the National Habitat Management Authority (NEMA), establish product take-back programs, remit fees based on product volume, and submit...
- Any entity introducing goods, packaging, or products into Kenya through manufacturing, importing, or rebranding must register with NEMA and secure an annual license.
Kenya’s waste management landscape is transforming. The new extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law mandates that producers, importers, and brand owners take full responsibility for the lifecycle of their products, including waste management. this includes registering with NEMA, establishing take-back programs, and paying EPR fees based on product volume. Failing to comply by the May 4, 2025 deadline can lead to penalties. The EPR regulations, rooted in the Enduring Waste management Act of 2022, aim for a circular economy. Companies launching goods in Kenya must understand and adhere to these new rules. For comprehensive news coverage,check out News Directory 3. Discover what’s next in sustainable waste management practices.
Kenya Adopts Extended producer responsibility for Waste Management
Updated June 17, 2025
Kenya is implementing new Sustainable Waste Management regulations, officially known as Legal Notice no.176 of 2024, to overhaul the country’s waste management practices. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shifts the burden to producers, importers, and brand owners, making them responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products and packaging.
Effective Nov. 4, 2024, the new rules require companies to register with the National Habitat Management Authority (NEMA), establish product take-back programs, remit fees based on product volume, and submit annual reports. The deadline for compliance is May 4, 2025.
Any entity introducing goods, packaging, or products into Kenya through manufacturing, importing, or rebranding must register with NEMA and secure an annual license. Importers of listed items must also register and pay EPR fees within six months of the regulations taking affect. Registration requires submitting a four-year compliance plan to obtain a Producer Responsibility Number, which is essential for product clearance.
the regulations mandate that producers implement take-back schemes, such as deposit-refund systems or collection partnerships, to ensure responsible collection and processing of post-consumer waste. The Cabinet Secretary will set EPR fees based on the volume of products introduced to the market. These fees will support waste management infrastructure.
Producers must maintain detailed records of production volumes, waste collection, recycling, and disposal, and submit annual reports to NEMA and county authorities.These EPR regulations are rooted in the Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022, which established principles like the polluter-pays model, zero-waste ideology, and circular economy frameworks.
The 2022 Act tasked the Cabinet Secretary with creating regulations to operationalize these principles, which are now realized through the EPR rules. While previous measures, such as the 2017 ban on single-use plastic bags, have helped reduce pollution, the new take-back schemes and mandatory EPR fees represent a more thorough, lifecycle-focused strategy for sustainable waste management.
What’s next
Businesses are encouraged to register by May 4, 2025, develop effective waste collection programs, engage with producer responsibility organizations (PROs), and improve product recyclability through design and consumer education. Joining PROs can ease the administrative burden, enabling collective compliance. Companies failing to register or submit accurate data may face legal action, financial penalties, or license revocation.