At a recent roundtable conference on urban waste financing, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Celestine Ketcha Courtès supported a proposal to charge households for garbage collection through indirect billing. It aims to address the waste management challenges faced by Cameroon.
Faced with persistent issues of urban cleanliness, the government is exploring a new approach to financing waste management through direct household fees. The proposal, which involve a dedicated fee and indirect billing mechanisms, aims to supplement existing funding sources and improve the efficiency of garbage collection services. Housing and Urban Development Minister, Célestine Ketcha Courtes, voiced her support for the initiative during a recent discussion on urban waste financing in Yaoundé.
The roundtable was part of a larger National Conference on Waste Resource Management, highlighting the government’s interest in addressing the issue. Minister Courtes emphasized that relying solely on current funding streams, which include direct government funding, excise taxes, and internationally-backed projects, is insufficient to meet the growing demands of waste management in urban centers. She argued that diversifying income streams is crucial for creating a sustainable and effective system.
Currently, the government allocates billion annually to waste management. However, despite this significant investment, many cities across Cameroon continue to grapple with overflowing landfills, uncollected garbage, and a general lack of cleanliness. The existing system has proven unable to keep pace with the rapid urbanization and increasing waste generation, leading to persistent environmental and public health concerns. The proposed household fees will provide a more predictable and localized source of revenue for waste management services.
By directly linking the cost of waste disposal to households, the initiative will also encourage greater responsibility and awareness regarding waste reduction and proper disposal practices. The move towards household fees represents a significant shift in Cameroon’s approach to waste management, signaling a recognition that innovative financing models are needed to address the persistent challenges of urban cleanliness and create a more sustainable future. The effectiveness of the new system will depend on careful planning, effective implementation, and ongoing monitoring to ensure that it delivers tangible improvements in waste collection and disposal services across the country.
