Solid Waste Management in Cities of the DRC

The numerous efforts made by successive administrations at the helm of the city of Bukavu have still not been enough to restore its image. The city remains unsanitary, and its residents face constant threats from the consequences of poor waste management. The obsolescence of certain regulations and laws, the failure to enforce others, and the lack of a strategy involving all stakeholders in waste generation are hindering effective waste management in the cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Bukavu. Proper waste management is doubly beneficial, as it ensures a healthy environment for the population and creates numerous job opportunities for the community in general and for young people in particular. The virtual absence of appropriate infrastructure-a consequence of the lack of a substantial budget for waste management-is now well established. Therefore, we have proposed tapping into private capital to clean up the city. A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is an alternative for providing the city with the infrastructure and equipment necessary to significantly reduce unsanitary conditions.

The numerous efforts made by successive administrations at the helm of the city of Bukavu have still not been enough to restore its image. The city remains unsanitary, and its residents face constant threats from the consequences of poor waste management. The obsolescence of certain regulations and laws, the failure to enforce others, and the lack of a strategy involving all stakeholders in waste generation are hindering effective waste management in the cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Bukavu. Proper waste management is doubly beneficial, as it ensures a healthy environment for the population and creates numerous job opportunities for the community in general and for young people in particular. The virtual absence of appropriate infrastructure-a consequence of the lack of a substantial budget for waste management-is now well established. Therefore, we have proposed tapping into private capital to clean up the city. A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is an alternative for providing the city with the infrastructure and equipment necessary to significantly reduce unsanitary conditions.