Evelyn Sackie, 40, is a mother of six who lives just 15 meters away from a dumpsite in the Police Academy community of Paynesville. As a petty businesswoman, Evelyn makes a living by selling cold water, frozen fish, and a popular street snack called Pepper Kala. She has been in this business since 2021. However, despite the massive pile of used plastic bottles and the overwhelming stench from the nearby dumpsite, Evelyn seems unaware of the environmental hazards posed by plastic pollution.
Environmental awareness is severely lacking in her community, where residents indiscriminately dump trash without understanding the consequences. Evelyn said, “I moved to this community three years ago, and it’s been like this ever since. We are not happy living in these conditions.”
Greater Monrovia and its surrounding areas face growing threats to public health due to plastic pollution and inadequate waste management. The widespread use of plastic, combined with an inefficient waste disposal system, is not only damaging the environment but also hindering crop production, particularly for those practicing backyard gardening in urban and slum communities. Plastic pollution has become a global issue, and Liberia is no exception.
Jerry Kerkulah, 30, lives near the Whein Town dumpsite and moved to the area in 2018. Despite the unbearable odor, Kerkulah has grown accustomed to the poor conditions. “We are used to this,” he said, noting that the massive piles of garbage have polluted the entire community. The area is overrun by mosquitoes, flies, and other insects. “My wife takes our children to the clinic almost every month because of malaria,” he added.
Both the Police Academy and Whein Town communities lack basic services such as clean drinking water, stable electricity, proper roads, education, and healthcare. Police Academy is home to approximately 8,000 residents, while Whein Town is home to around 10,000 people, many of whom live in extreme poverty. The presence of poorly managed dumpsites in these areas poses severe health risks to the communities.
Kerkulah emphasized the need to relocate the dumpsite as the only way to protect the community from its current environmental hazards.
As Liberia grapples with these challenges, environmental experts warn that poor waste management and the rampant use of single-use plastics are contaminating water sources, filling up land space, and endangering public health. The rainy season exacerbates the problem, as clogged drainage systems, blocked by plastic waste, lead to widespread flooding.
Liberia, with a population of 5.4 million, generates significant amounts of waste daily. According to the World Bank, the average household waste per capita in Monrovia is estimated at 0.76 kg per day. The largest proportion of waste is organic matter (40.2%), followed by plastic (14.2%).
The issues of plastic pollution and inadequate waste management are not limited to Montserrado County but affect other parts of Liberia as well. These environmental hazards continue to have a profound impact on the daily lives of residents in urban and slum communities.
Impact of Plastic Pollution and Trends
Plastic pollution and poor waste management have become serious concerns for many Liberians. Communities like Police Academy and Whein Town suffer the adverse effects of these problems. According to a 2019 report from Cities Alliance on solid waste management in Monrovia, tons of waste litter the streets, contributing to deforestation as charcoal continues to be exported from the country. The increasing use of plastic products in Monrovia has led to a surge in plastic waste.
A recent World Bank report on plastic pollution estimates the cost of damage caused by marine plastic pollution in West Africa to be between US$10,000 and US$33,000 per ton of waste. Fisheries, aquaculture, marine-linked tourism, property values, biodiversity, and ecosystems are all severely affected.
Marie F.P. Byepu, Officer-in-Charge at a local clinic in the community, expressed frustration over the situation. She revealed that over 50% of weekly cases at her clinic are malaria-related, directly linked to the nearby dumpsite. Ms. Byepu recounted a recent incident where a pregnant woman, suffering from severe malaria, gave birth prematurely at the clinic. “This is very bad for us, and the authorities must act now to save this community,” she urged.
The Whein Town dumpsite, established in 2012 with support from the World Bank, was meant to be a temporary solution but has far exceeded its capacity. Monrovia produces approximately 800 tons of waste daily, with only 45% being formally collected. Years of neglect by the authorities have left the dumpsite in a dire state, exposing the community to foul odors and increasing public health risks.
Efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
In 2023, Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) endorsed a resolution to combat global plastic pollution. Despite this, environmental experts argue that implementation remains a challenge. EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo stated that plastic pollution affects the ocean and marine life and continues to cause flooding in Monrovia due to blocked drainage systems. He emphasized the need for innovative solutions to reduce plastic use and create business opportunities through recycling.
City Government Initiatives
The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) is developing a new landfill site in Cheesemanburg along the Bomi Highway, which is expected to bring some relief to the impacted communities. The 100-acre facility is designed to handle Monrovia’s waste demands and is part of a $23 million project supported by the World Bank.
Once completed, the site will serve as a central hub for sustainable waste disposal, significantly alleviating the waste management challenges in Monrovia and Montserrado County. Efforts are also underway to relocate residents affected by the Cheesemanburg landfill’s development, providing them with new homes and improved living conditions.
Though Monrovia continues to face serious waste management issues, these initiatives represent crucial steps towards improving the city’s waste disposal systems and promoting public health. However, without sufficient budgetary support and political will, these goals may remain difficult to achieve.
