Waste-to-Opportunities: A Sustainable Option for Self-Reliance in the Informal Sector in Cameroon
Author(s)
Lum Kareen Niba(Environmental Waste Management Programme, School of Toxicology, Occupational Safety / Health Risk Assessment, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Institute for Management and Professional Training, Yaounde, Cameroon) and Wilfred Angie Abia*(Environmental Waste Management Programme, School of Toxicology, Occupational Safety / Health Risk Assessment, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Institute for Management and Professional Training, Yaounde, Cameroon) *Corresponding author's Email
Niba, Lum Kareen and Abia, Wilfred Angie (2020), “Waste-to-Opportunities: A Sustainable Option for Self-Reliance in the Informal Sector in Cameroon”, MERC Global’s International Journal of Management, Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 10-18.
Article history
Submitted: June 29, 2019, Revision received: August 29, 2019, Accepted: September 10, 2019
Waste management is a public health concern in Cameroon. Currently generated waste in the city of Yaounde exceeds the existing capacity for its collection, disposal and management (CDM) with potential environmental and health implications. Ironically, such waste may be recycled/reused by the informal sector as unconditional job opportunities. This paper reports on solid organic and plastic household and market waste (HMW) CDM by indigents in/around Acacia, Yaounde, and propose sustainable strategies to valorize solid organic and plastic HMW into opportunities in the informal sector. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on HMW CDM in Acacia. The predominant type of waste was organic (90/150, 60%) followed by plastics (20%), mainly originating from the market (83%). Most participants (60%) had a basic knowledge of waste management, especially composting (60%). No participant practiced waste segregation. Proper information, communication, vocational education and training (PICVET) aim of increasing social corporate responsibility and community initiatives for proper waste management may simultaneously reduce the negative implications on the environment and health, while increasing self-reliance from waste to opportunities.
Abia, W. A.; Warth, B.; Ezekiel, C. N.; Sarkanj, B.; Turner, P. C.; Marko, D.; Krska, R. and Sulyok, M. (2017), “Uncommon toxic microbial metabolite patterns in traditionally home-processed maize dish (fufu) consumed in rural Cameroon”, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol. 107, pp. 10-19.
Abowoh, V. N. (2016), Potential for Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management in Cameroon: Case study Limbe municipal council, Master’s thesis, Master´s Degree Programme in Environmental Technology, Faculty of Technology, Lahti University of Applied Sciences.
Buenrostro, O.; Bocco, G. and Cram, S. (2001). “Classification of sources of municipal solid wastes in developing countries”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 29-41.
Hannon, J. and Zaman, A. U. (2018), “Exploring the Phenomenon of Zero Waste and Future Cities”, Urban Sci., Vol. 2, Issue 90, pp. 1-26.
Hoornweg, D. and Bhada-Tata, P. (2012), What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management. Urban development series; knowledge papers no. 15. World Bank, Washington, DC, World Bank.
Kafando, P.; Segda, B. G.; Nzihou, J. F. and Koulidiati, J. (2013), “Environmental Impacts of Waste Management Deficiencies and Health Issues: A Case Study in the City of Kaya, Burkina Faso”, Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 4, pp. 1080-1087.
Lehmann, S. (2011), “Resource Recovery and Materials Flow in the City: Zero Waste and Sustainable Consumption as Paradigmsin Urban Development”, Sustainable Development Law & Policy, Article 13, Vol. 11, Issue I, pp. 28-38.
Mesjasz-Lech, A. (2014), “Municipal waste management in the context of sustainable urban development”, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 151, pp. 244-256.
Ngnikam, E. (2000), Evalution Environmental et Economique du System de gestion des dechetssolidesmunicipaux; Analyse du CAS de Yaounde au Cameroon LAEPSI, Lyon institute Nationale des science applique de Lyon.
Niba, L. K. (2016), Management and valorisation of solid waste: Composting as an option for sustainable development in the Yaounde VI Municipality. Vocational qualification certificate dissertation supervised by Dr Wilfred A. Abia at the Institute for Management and Professional Training (IMPT), Yaounde, Cameroon.
Olley, J.; Wilson, D. C. and Read, A. (2006), Getting results: realising the benefits of community participation in strategic planning for municipal waste management.
Olufemi, A. O. and Adeniyi, O. O. (2017), “Impacts of Waste Dumps on the Health of Neighbours: A Case Study of Olusosun Waste Dump, Ojota, Lagos State, Nigeria”, Journal of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Vol. 2, pp. 27-33.
Pariatamby, A. and Tanaka, M. (2014), Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands, Springer Singapore Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London, 377.
UN General Assembly (2015), Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, A/RES/70/1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57b6e3e44.html, accessed 2 January 2019.
Vermande, P. and Ngnikam, E. (1994), Etude de la gestionET des traitement des ordures menageres de Yaounde (Cameroon) vol 1 Actual Situation. Yaounde Fond Special d’Equipement et d’Intervention Intercommunale (FEICOM) Maired’arrondissement de Yaounde II, ENSP ETl’Universite de Yaounde I.
Wilson, D. C. (2007), “Development drivers for waste management”, Waste Management and Research, Vol. 25, Issue 198-207.
Wilson, D. C. and Whiteman, A. (2003), Read AD, Strategic planning for solid waste management an interactive toolkit for developing countries, World, pp. 55-60.
Wilson, D. C.; Velis, C. and Cheeseman, C. (2006), “Role of informal sector recycling in waste management in developing countries”, Habitat International, Vol. 30, Issue 4, pp. 797-808.