Stockholm, Sweden, 10th June 2025
The 8 million euro system is designed to serve over 30,000 residents and can handle up to 40 tonnes of solid waste daily.
The innovative system was implemented through Italian construction firm ICM S.p.A. as part of Technopolis’s commitment to building a smart, clean, and efficient city. By integrating Envac’s state-of-the-art waste management solution, the smart city aims to elevate residents’ quality of life while demonstrating global best practices in sustainable urban infrastructure.
“The integration of Envac’s pneumatic waste management system at Konza Technopolis enhances sustainable urban living and promotes a modern, eco-conscious city,” said John Paul Okwiri, Chief Executive Officer of Konza Technopolis.
The system is designed to serve residents and commercial users in Phase 1 of developing Konza Technopolis, which will host approximately 30,000 residents. It has the capacity to manage up to 40 tonnes of solid waste per day, with the waste separated at source into organic, mixed, plastic, and paper categories.
Key features of the automatic waste collection system include:
- 100 waste disposal points connected to buildings throughout the city
- A 15-kilometre underground pipe network
- 880 automated valves and 220 additional disposal points
- Sensor-activated inlets that trigger a vacuum cycle when full
- A centralised waste collection station for sorting and dispatch
Once the inlets reach capacity, the system automatically activates a vacuum process, transporting the waste through underground pipes to a central collection station where it is stored in designated containers before removal.
By eliminating the need for traditional garbage trucks, the system reduces carbon emissions and noise pollution and ensures a cleaner, more hygienic and organised environment for Konza Technopolis residents. This aligns with Konza’s broader vision of becoming a zero-emission smart city, prioritising sustainability, innovation, and livability.
“We are very proud to contribute to the Konza Technopolis project by incorporating our pneumatic waste collection technology,” said Carlos Bernad, CEO of Envac Iberia and President of Envac EMEA. “The Envac system will help improve essential services, boost recycling rates, reduce CO₂ emissions, and protect the environment for future generations.”
With this deployment, Konza Technopolis sets a new benchmark in urban planning for Africa, demonstrating how intelligent infrastructure can transform cities into hubs of innovation, sustainability, and well-being.
About Konza Technopolis
Konza Technopolis is a flagship project of the Government of Kenya, developing as a Science Park and Area of Innovation within largest smart city project in east and central Africa. Located 60 kilometres southeast of Nairobi, Konza Technopolis features a 5,000-acre master-planned city set to foster science, innovation, technology, and commercialization to drive economic growth. The smart city s is managed by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy. Popularly known as “Africa’s Silicon Savannah,” Konza Technopolis aims to establish Kenya as a leading technology hub by creating a sustainable, digitally driven city with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Rocío García
Marketing Manager, Envac EMEA
r.garcia@envac.es
Ruth Nduta, Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Konza Technopolis
rnduta@konza.go.ke
