EcoKinga Project
Climate–Health Innovation for Safe Self-Care Waste Disposal
EcoKinga is a community-led, climate-smart health initiative that addresses the growing challenge of unsafe disposal of self-care medical sharps in Kenya. Led by Radishare Kenya in partnership with community-based organizations (CBOs), EcoKinga integrates infection prevention, environmental sustainability, and digital innovation to protect households, communities, and the environment.
① Why EcoKinga Matters
Across Kenya, the use of self-care medical products such as injectable contraceptives and insulin is increasing. Yet safe disposal options at household level remain limited, particularly in low-income and informal urban settlements.
As a result:
- • Used needles are often discarded in latrines, open dumps, or household waste
- • Children, caregivers, and waste handlers face serious needle-stick injury risks
- • Communities experience avoidable environmental pollution
- • Existing sharps containers are often unaffordable or inaccessible
EcoKinga responds to this gap by placing safe disposal solutions directly in the hands of communities.
② The EcoKinga Solution
EcoKinga introduces a low-cost, durable sharps disposal container produced from locally available waste materials and distributed through trusted community systems.
The EcoKinga Container:
- ✓ Is made from recycled materials such as baby formula tins, coconut shells, and aluminum cans
- ✓ Is reinforced for safety and durability
- ✓ Is designed for household use and community collection
- ✓ Promotes safe behavior while reducing environmental waste
But EcoKinga goes beyond a product—it creates a complete disposal ecosystem.
③ How EcoKinga Works
CBOs and local MSMEs are trained to produce EcoKinga containers, deliver infection prevention education, and engage households.
Households safely store used needles in EcoKinga containers instead of disposing of them in open or unsafe spaces.
Half - Filled containers are returned through partner CBOs, pharmacies or government health facilities for approved disposal.
Each container includes:
- A QR code linking users to safe disposal guidance and nearby drop-off points
- A unique serial number to track the container from distribution to final disposal
- A feedback survey feeding real-time data into Radishare’s learning dashboard
④ Climate–Health Innovation at the Community Level
EcoKinga sits at the intersection of public health and climate action by:
- 🌱 Repurposing waste materials that would otherwise pollute the environment
- 🌱 Reducing exposure to infectious waste at household and community level
- 🌱 Empowering CBOs to lead locally owned climate–health solutions
- 🌱 Demonstrating how circular economy approaches can strengthen health systems
⑤ Who EcoKinga Serves
⑥ Impact We Are Driving
Through EcoKinga, Radishare Kenya and its partners aim to:
- ✦ Increase access to safe and affordable sharps disposal at household level
- ✦ Reduce unsafe disposal and needle-stick injuries
- ✦ Strengthen community awareness of infection prevention and climate health
- ✦ Build sustainable CBO-led systems for waste management
- ✦ Generate real-time data to improve learning, accountability, and scale
⑦ Partnership Model
⑧ Get Involved
EcoKinga is designed to scale through partnership and collaboration.
- ◆ Donors & Development Partners: Support piloting, scale-up, and learning
- ◆ Pharmacies & Health Facilities: Join the collection and disposal network
- ◆ CBOs & MSMEs: Partner in community implementation and production
- ◆ Communities & Advocates: Help spread awareness on safe disposal and climate health