Turning Waste into Value: Young Innovators Driving Change on Remba Island
On Remba Island in Homa Bay County, young people are turning organic waste into opportunity through an innovative Black Soldier Fly (BSF) project that transforms discarded organic material into animal feed and organic fertiliser. Led by Tumaini CBO through the Sustainable Island Biowaste Solution, the initiative offers a practical approach to waste management while creating opportunities for young people to develop skills and explore enterprise.
The project responds to two challenges facing the island: managing organic waste and the high cost of poultry and fish feed. It operates as a cycle, beginning with organic waste collected by the young people from hotels and households across the island. The waste is gathered in storage bins to make it easier for the larvae to feed on, with fish and pig waste also incorporated as part of the AgriWaste component. The particular stock of Black Soldier Fly larvae used in the project was sourced from Saniwise Technologies in Kisumu. Initially fed on wheat bran, the larvae are introduced to the fermented waste, where they feed and grow as they break down the material.
Once the larvae have fed on the waste and it has dried, the well-fed larvae are placed in nets where they develop into adult flies. The flies lay eggs, producing new larvae and keeping the cycle going. Meanwhile, the dried waste is sieved to produce frass, the organic fertiliser left behind after the larvae have fed.
For the young people involved, the project is a hands-on learning experience. Through the support we provide, Tumaini CBO youth members and community members are gaining practical skills in BSF farming, waste collection and sustainable agriculture. The growing interest from young people and farmers is opening up possibilities for entrepreneurship and employment.
For farmers on Remba Island, the project provides an alternative source of animal feed and organic fertiliser. Locally produced feed could help reduce reliance on costly commercial options, while the organic fertiliser provides an additional resource for sustainable farming.
The project has also received recognition for its innovative approach. It has advanced to the second stage of the Kenya Red Cross Society’s AgriWaste Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project, highlighting the ingenuity and potential of the initiative and marking an important milestone for the young people driving it.
As the initiative grows, its potential impact extends beyond waste management. The project aims to recycle more than 300 tonnes of organic waste annually, helping reduce open dumping and pollution on Remba Island. It also aims to connect more than 200 farmers to affordable animal feed and organic fertiliser, while creating 15 direct green jobs and supporting a further 30 indirect jobs across the value chain. These goals reflect the potential of the project to create environmental, economic and livelihood benefits for the island community.
The long-term vision is for Remba Island to become a circular economy hub, where waste creates jobs, affordable agricultural inputs, healthier surroundings and sustainable livelihoods. Through the Sustainable Island Biowaste Solution, young people are helping to build this vision one cycle at a time. Support our work to help us achieve these goals and create lasting opportunities for people in Remba. https://www.goodhub.com/go/rembaislandpfp
