Freetown Sanitation: What went wrong? Sierra Leone is fast developing. But with a rapid increase of migration to the city for jobs, waste is disposed of indiscriminately, by the roadside, in market vicinities, and in back yards. This is a factor to the pollution of water resources, flooding and serious public health risks for local communities. The Western area of Freetown generates about 85 tons of wastes per day, and only 25% of this waste is collected and transported to the dumpsites (see photo below). The Eastern area of Freetown generates over 120 tons of waste per day, and only 10% of this waste is collected and transported to the dumpsites. The main dumpsites in Freetown are old and were built in 1946 and 1986 respectively. This amount of waste is potential wealth – convert waste to energy. For example, in Vero Beach Florida, and in the UK, waste to energy uses municipal solid waste to produce electricity and ethanol by a small scale Biomass CHP Plant (see photo below) with an output of 1,25MW, and it is widely used in the UK. This can help reduce waste in Freetown. The machine meets all relevant emission requirements and legislation such as Directive 75/442/EEC. It provides clean energy, supplements recycling, reduces land filling, and mitigates air pollution, flooding, and erosion. The Ministry of Health, Freetown City Council, Sierra Leone Environmental Agency, and SALWACO (MoEWR) responsible for sanitation need a rude shake up in accordance with our Environmental Law. The country could integrate the Environmental Impact Assessment Directives, particularly EU Directive 85/337/EEC, into our Laws, enforce these laws and policies, and free this generation and the next from unhealthy living. With the anti-corruption laws in place, the law enforcement officers would have to be firm, and uncompromising to make Freetown a better place for our people.
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 07:27:53 +0000
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