Aitana: Promoting Circular Economy Through Electronic Waste Management in Kenya

This research addresses the escalating challenge of electronic waste (e-waste) in Kenya, particularly in the densely populated business hub of Eastleigh, Nairobi, where improper disposal of electronics poses serious environmental and health risks. Kenya generates approximately 51,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, yet existing solutions—such as those offered by the WEEE Centre and E-Waste Initiative Kenya, focus mainly on recycling and safe disposal, with little emphasis on creative reuse or public education. To fill this gap, the study developed Aitana, an AI-powered mobile application that uses a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to classify eight common categories of e-waste (e.g., laptops, mobile phones, keyboards) with over 90% accuracy. For each identified item, the system generates a fun fact and two practical reuse ideas, supplemented by educational resources and a dedicated chatbot restricted to e-waste, circular economy, and sustainability topics. The research followed an Agile software development approach and a mixed-methods evaluation, combining technical performance testing with user feedback from 10–15 Eastleigh residents. Results showed that more than 60% of participants intended to repurpose their e-waste after using the application, and classification activity increased steadily during testing. By integrating machine learning with targeted sustainability education, Aitana demonstrates the potential to reduce improper e-waste disposal, promote circular economy practices, and foster community engagement. Scaled implementation could significantly contribute to Kenya’s 2021 circular economy policy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.