Garbage Collection Activity

On the 5th of October 2019, a meeting was convened by the Mayor of Dhahar (Mustafe Abdi Aden) who invited ADEC’s field coordinator (Jama Dahir Qodax). The meeting was attended by the mayor, ADES’s field coordinator, five members of the local council and key community members. The mayor extended his appreciation to WFP and its local implementing partner, ADEC for the support provided to the community during the drought and asset creation projects.

In this meeting, the mayor highlighted that one major problem facing the community which was garbage collection especially during the rainy season and that the council had no financial resources, equipment or even expertise to address this challenge. Heaps of garbage can be seen all over the city and surrounding areas. The lack of tarmac road greatly undermines social development especially during rains seasons and dents quick recovery efforts. The mayor, requested ADEC and the community members to volunteer in garbage collection on a voluntary basis unit a viable and permanent solution found.

To this end, the local council members in consultations with community agreed with ADEC to facilitate the solid waste management of the district.

The presence of uncollected garbage collection poses a threat to the heath and sanitation the town.

Since Dhahar has no reliable service providers for the garbage collection coupled with scarce local government resource, however, with the help of ADEC and local community initiatives through an innovative weekly clean-up campaign activity.

Key community members (informants) were assigned the role of sensitizing the community to collect garbage thrice a week voluntarily and drop the collected garbage off at designated drop-off points. On the other hand, ADEC is to provide Non Food Items and transportation for the garbage collection exercise. ADEC will be responsible for its collection and onward disposal.

This project can help clean up the city and it will create employment opportunities for future, including young people and women, in the areas it works. Improved waste management will boost sanitation, improve public health indicators, render more roads accessible, and protect the environment.