Taming the ‘Monster’ of urban grime

Authorities in different towns and cities endeavour that garbage is cleared on time. A challenge that is common to all the city councils in Cameroon today is how to manage the growing heaps of household refuse.

In spite of efforts over the years to keep the country’s towns and cities continuously clean, the problem persists. This is not to say that there exists no success story among any of the 14 City Councils of Maroua, Garoua, Ngaoundere, Bertoua, Ebolowa, Kribi, Edea, Douala, Nkongsamba, Limbe, Kumba, Bafoussam, Bamenda and Yaounde.

Environmental Sanitation Days The setting aside of specific days in the week or month for cleaning up public places and residential premises is quite common in city councils. In the Yaounde City Council, for example, traders of Mokolo, Central and Mfoundi Markets have specific days in the week that they shut down activities in order to clean up in and around their shops.

It is Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Sundays respectively for the three markets. Traders are often assisted in carrying away the garbage by trucks of the environmental sanitation company, Hysacam.

Bamenda does not enjoy the presence of Hysacam like other cities in the country, but the City Council had for many years set aside the first Thursday of the month for general clean-up during which public transport was expected to be off the streets until the end of the exercise.

However, this was stopped in 2013 because there was insufficient equipment to collect the refuse gathered at street corners after the exercise. But plans are underway to restart it.

According to dependable sources, the Bamenda City Council will soon acquire a “backhoe” two-pronged refuse collection truck from Germany to collect garbage along streets after clean-up. In addition, 20 tricycles have already been procured for collecting refuse from inner city neighbourhoods.

City Council Sanitation Workers/Equipment While in towns and cities where Hysacam operates, street cleaning is done by its workers, the Bamenda City Council since about two years ago employed its own staff to carry out the work. They also take charge of the city’s markets and other public places, as well as sensitise residents on the need for keeping their environment clean.

These workers therefore, serve as sanitary officers. Directly linked to this is the acquisition of refuse disposal trucks and tools for the cleaners. The Bamenda City Council has for years had its own refuse disposal truck acquired through a cooperation deal with Dutch authorities.

Sanitation Awards/Student Volunteers The creation of sanitation awards in some regions, divisions or towns has also helped in shoring up cleanliness. The authorities in the West Region have in recent years organised such competitions, which in no small measure have improved the level of sanitation in the Bafoussam City Council. Where such competitions have been led by city councils, the impact on neighbourhood cleanliness has not been negligible.

Another group that has significantly contributed to urban sanitation is students on holidays. Considered as volunteers, many sub-divisional and city councils often make use of their services in clearing blocked gutters and culverts, sweeping streets and cutting down grass along streets and in public places. At the end of the month, they are given a token of FCFA 50,000.

Trash Cans/Sensitisation Sub-divisional and city councils in the country are known to provide trash cans and refuse bins in public places like garages and along streets. This is often accompanied by sensitisation messages posted in strategic parts of the town or city, calling on members of the public to help in keeping their environment clean. Some councils even use radio jingles, street banners or billboards to back up their awareness campaigns.

Public Toilets/Lavatories The Bamenda III Subdivisional Council at Nkwen some years ago constructed a modern public toilet/lavatory beside the Nkwen District Hospital. The strategic location enables travellers with a nearby famous bus company to bathe or use the WC on arrival or before departure; thereby helping in keeping the city clean.