LIBERIA: City Gov’t starts Waste Management Strategy with Home Enumeration
By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – In the wake of a serious sanitation crisis with stockpiles of garbage in and around Monrovia, the city government has commenced a home enumeration exercise across the municipality of Monrovia, Liberia’s capital.
Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee announcing the enumeration of homes and businesses to address the solid waste crisis in Monrovia
The exercise is part of the Monrovia City Corporation’s Waste Management Exercise amidst robust WASH Media Reportage of the garbage crisis across Monrovia.
The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) through its Mayor, Jefferson Koijee has declared waste as a “potential national security threat”, and called for collective efforts against the solid waste threat.
Also, in the wake of increased WASH Media Reportage on sanitation issues, especially on solid waste crisis in and around Monrovia, MCC recently held an Emergency Solid Waste Management Stakeholders Conference in Monrovia.
The Conference which sought to address the dangling waste challenges confronting Monrovia, brought together stakeholders within the waste management sector aimed at rallying the needed expertise, logistics, and synergy to address the rising solid waste challenges confronting Monrovia and its environs.
Announcing the start of the “Waste Management Strategy Home Numeration” over the weekend, MCC said the entire city was overwhelmed with waste and the exercise is designed to engage residents for a sustainable waste management approach and provide proper address system for homes and businesses.
City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee said the exercise will enable the MCC have a complete data of households and structures within the city and will guide the Corporation to develop the minimum amount to be paid by residents for their waste disposal.
He complained that Liberia was the only country where people don’t pay for waste collection and disposal.
According to him, data from the numeration will enable the MCC have a full understanding, to make an informed decision to address the solid waste crisis in and around Monrovia.
He noted the exercise is one of the major projects under the “Weah for Clean City Campaign” and is expected to cover ten of the seventeen electoral districts in Montserrado County, from districts 7 to 16.
Mayor Koijee further said for the smooth implementation of the exercise, the MCC has contracted a Liberian based company, All-Terrain Services (ATS).
The project, according to him will create jobs for many young people, adding that 370 youths, all residents of Monrovia are currently benefiting from the exercise.
The Monrovia City Mayor urged residents to cooperate with the team, clarifying that it is not political or intended to destroy their homes as it is being perceived in some quarters.
He also used the occasion to frown on residents who are in the constant habits of burning waste in the city and called on them to desist from such hazardous act.
