MALAWI: Lilongwe has a solid waste management plan

In order to clean up the city, the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has developed a solid waste management strategy. The new plan was developed by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe (CCJP Lilongwe), in partnership with Oxfam Malawi. The work was carried out under the "Strengthening Collaborative Governance on City Planning and Management" project. The initiative is funded by the Tilitonse Foundation.

As a first step, the LCC plans to increase adequate equipment and facilities in Lilongwe for the disposal of illegal dumping in the city. Currently, Lilongwe spends about 80 million Malawian kwacha (more than $91,200) a year to collect and transport garbage from illegal dumping sites. " Rapid population growth and increased urbanization have led to an increase in waste generation and pressure on the level of service the city can provide to its residents," says Thokozani Mkaka, the LCC's deputy director of health and cleaning services. The new waste management policy also aims to make Lilongwe a sustainable city, according to the official.

The new Lilongwe Solid Waste Management Plan will facilitate the implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy, launched on June 11, 2021 in Malawi. The policy focuses on the use of modern technologies for waste disposal in the country. The new policy also aims to develop the circular economy through recycling and/or reuse of waste. According to Malawi's Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources, Nancy Tembo, achieving these goals is contingent on securing adequate funding and equipment for waste collection and transportation in the country. During the launch of the Malawi Waste Management Strategy, Nancy Tembo called for support from public and private stakeholders to give Malawi's streets "a greener face".

Source: www.afrik21.africa