Waste management is a major challenge in less developed countries (LDCs) and Cameroon in particular. This is due to a number of factors, including:

Rapid urbanization:

  Cameroon is experiencing rapid urbanization, which is leading to a growing volume of waste.

Poverty: Many Municipalities in Cameroon lack the financial resources to invest in waste management infrastructure and services.

 

Weak governance:

 Some school of thoughts are of the opinion that they are weak governance institutions, this makes it difficult to implement and enforce waste management regulations. Cameroon has good laws as enshrined in the 1996 laws but the implementation is the problem.

As a result of these factors, a significant portion of waste in cameroon is not collected or disposed of properly. This can lead to a number of problems, including:

Pollution: Waste that is not collected or disposed of properly can pollute the air, water, and soil. This is noticeable in our towns as places are smelling due to littered waste. This can have a negative impact on human health and the environment.

Disease: Waste can also attract pests and disease vectors, such as mosquitoes and rats. This can increase the risk of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

Climate change:  

The open burning of waste releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which contribute to climate change.

In addition to these environmental and health problems, waste mismanagement also have a negative impact on the economy . For example, it can lead to a decrease in tourism and investment, and it can make it difficult to attract and retain skilled workers.

There are a number of things that can be done to improve waste management in Cameroon. These include:

Investing in infrastructure and services:

The Government of cameroon and international donors need to invest in waste management infrastructure and services, such as waste collection, transportation, and disposal facilities.

Strengthening governance: 

The Government of cameroon need to strengthen her governance institutions to improve the implementation and enforcement of waste management regulations.

Educating the public:

 The Government and the civil society organizations need to educate the public about the importance of waste management and how to reduce and dispose of waste properly.

Addressing the challenge of waste management in Cameroon will require a concerted effort from the Government, international donors, and the private sector. By investing in infrastructure services, strengthening governance, and educating the public, we can help to create a cleaner and healthier future for everyone.

  Here is an example of an initiative that is being implemented in other to improve waste management in an African country:

In Rwanda, the government has implemented a number of policies to promote waste management, including a ban on plastic bags and a requirement that all households and businesses compost their organic waste. The country has achieved a 90% recycling rate.

This is just an example of an initiative that is underway to improve waste management in other Rwanda and Cameroon may choose to copy such an example to add to some of her own initiatives. 

In conclusion, Cameroon can make progress in addressing this national and disgraceful challenge of poor waste littering if people work together