NORA LINDSTROM URBAN GOVERNANCE ADVISOR OCTOBER 2014 Waste management in Lilongwe’s poor settlements: Preliminary findings

Background Over the past year, LUPPEN with support from ActionAid Malawi has conducted research on waste management in Lilongwe  Survey of all urban poor settlements in Lilongwe  Use of score cards to evaluate waste management in Chinsapo, Mwenyekondo, and Mchesi Objectives:  Create baseline  Improved waste management in Lilongwe’s poor settlements through evidence-based advocacy and community mobilisation

Waste management – a duty ”It shall be the duty of every local authority to take all lawful, necessary and reasonably practicable measures for maintaining its area at all times in clean and sanitary condition, and for preventing the occurrence therein of, or for remedying or causing to be remedied, any nuisance or condition liable to be injurious or dangerous to health” – Public Health Act, Article 60 An Assembly may “establish, maintain and manage services for the collection and removal and protection treatment of solid and liquid waste, and the disposal thereof whether within or without it its area and may compel the use of its services by anybody of persons to whom the services are available; “ – Decentralised Environmental Management Guidelines, Article “Every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment and a duty to maintain and enhance the environment“ – National Environment Policy, Article 2.3a

Status of waste management in Lilongwe Recommended ratioLilongwe need (pop. 700,000)Current status 1 skip carrier to 30,000 personsAt least 25 skip carriers2 skip carriers 1 refuse compactor to 5,000 persons At least 140 refuse compactors8 refuse compactors 1 skip to 1,000 personsAt least 700 skips64 skips 1 tipper truck to 100,000 persons At least 7 tipper trucks1 tipper truck 1 street bin to 1,000 personsAt least 700 bins30 street bins Source: LCC (2012) Cleansing Services Division Monthly Report for February 2012

Waste collection in urban poor settlements Sample: 33 settlements

Waste management in urban poor settlements Total: 70 replies

Chinsapo Indicator Comments/Remarks Very bad BadJust okGood Very good Score Frequency on waste collection There is no waste collection in Chinsapo Frequency of skip carrier service No skip carrier services in Chinsapo Frequency of waste compactor service No waste compactor services in Chinsapo Number of skips No skips in Chinsapo and rubbish is thrown anywhere Waste in the market People throw their rubbish in the market because there is no skip at the market Occurrence of diseases like diarrhea Rubbish dumped at market contaminates food items and spreads diarrhea Availability of rubbish pits/bins People throw their rubbish at TOVIC and others throw their waste anywhere because they do not have Waste at TOVIC Due to lack of waste management services people throw their rubbish besides Chinsapo Road (TOVIC) near Chinsapo secondary school. Occurrence of bad smell Bad smell around areas where waste is dumped Waste on road to graveyard/cemetery Due to lack of waste management services people throw their rubbish near Chinsapo cemetery Total Score 1.20

Mwenyekondo Indicator Comments/Remarks Very bad BadJust okGood Very good Score Waste in the drainage People throw their rubbish in the drainage which is below the LWB Tanks expecting water to wash it away when tanks are opened. Waste accumulates when tanks are not opened and decomposes and produces bad smell. Waste in the market Waste accumulates in the market because there is only one skip Occurrence of Flies & mosquitoes Rubbish that is not collected on time at the skip area, market and around the homes attract flies and mosquitoes breed from the same areas. Occurrence of bad smell There is bad smell in the drainage and the skip area because rubbish is not collected on time Occurrence of diseases like diarrhea Flies that are attracted by rubbish from the drainage, homes, skip area, sometimes contaminate food and causes diarrhea Availability of Bins/Rubbish pits People without bins/rubbish pits throw their waste anywhere; the waste decomposes and causes bad smell Frequency on waste collection Waste is collected at will. Number of skips Only one skip Frequency of skip carrier services Comes at will and waste accumulates at the skip Total Score 2.11

Mchesi Indicator12345Score Comments/Remarks Very badBad Just okGood Very good Occurrence of diseases like diarrhea and malaria Flies that are attracted by rubbish sometimes contaminate food items that are sold at the market and cause diarrhea. Other places where waste is deposited become breeding areas for mosquitoes causing malaria Occurrence of bad smell Rubbish that is not collected or cleaned up on time; it decomposes and causes bad smell Availability of rubbish Pits/Bins Households that do not have rubbish pits and bins throw rubbish anywhere and increase cases of diarrhea, Occurrence of flies in the settlement Rubbish is dumped and attracts flies because it is not cleaned up. The flies contaminate food Frequency of waste collection Waste is collected once per week instead of twice per week. In Mchesi Primary, Summit & Madina waste is not collected at all Frequency of waste compactor The waste compactor does not come as indicated in the LCC roaster. As such people dump or deposit their rubbish at the skips Number of skips There are just two skips in Mchesi, one at the market and another at Nkhadze. Frequency of skip carrier The skip does not come as indicated in the LCC Roaster and the two skips in Mchesi are overloaded with waste TOTAL 2.67

Some findings/conclusions Urban poor settlements are being significantly underserved by the LCC Private waste management companies dump waste in poor settlements (e.g. Area 25) Market waste is a particular problem Composting is an under-used but effective waste management method  Over 70% of waste is organic  No separation of organic/inorganic waste in current composting

Next steps for LUPPEN/AAM Interface meeting with duty bearers in mid-October Endline survey using score cards in three target settlements Publication of report on waste management in Lilongwe Publication of survey of urban poor settlements in Lilongwe Continued work with community waste committees Mobilisation of other communities on issues surrounding waste