Beyond Waste Collection: Rethinking Waste Management in The Gambia

OPINION

By Sheriff Manga

Plastic bags and cups along our roads, littered markets, clogged drains, and overflowing waste collection points have become familiar sights across many parts of The Gambia. These are often seen as failures of waste collection, but they point to a deeper problem. For too long, our approach has focused mainly on collecting and disposing of waste, when it should also prioritise waste reduction, segregation, recycling, accountability, and public participation.

As our population grows, towns expand, and economic activities increase, pressure on the country’s already limited waste management resources continues to rise. Unless we rethink our approach, the environmental, public health, and economic consequences will only become more severe.
Effective waste management begins where waste is generated. Yet in many households, businesses, markets, and public spaces, organic waste, plastics, glass, metals, and other materials are discarded together. The shortage of public litter bins, coupled with the growing number of informal street vendors who often lack proper waste disposal arrangements, contributes significantly to littering and environmental pollution. These practices increase collection costs, shorten the lifespan of collection equipment, and make recycling far more difficult.

The challenge is not simply the absence of laws but the effective implementation of those already in place. The Ban on Plastic Bags Order,2015 should be enforced consistently to reduce single-use plastic pollution. Environment laws should also be applied fairly and consistently to discourage irresponsible waste disposal.

During a recent visit to Kafountine in Southern Senegal, I observed a simple but effective waste segregation system. Colour-coded bins placed in strategic public locations encouraged residents to separate waste before collection. It was a practical reminder that effective solutions do not always require expensive technology or large budgets. Sometimes they simply require commitment, planning, and public cooperation.

The Gambia can adopt similar measures by introducing colour-coded bins in schools, markets, public institutions, mini stadiums and other public spaces. This would encourage waste segregation, promote recycling, and strengthen environmental awareness. At the same time, companies that manufacture or import plastic bottles, cups, and other plastic packaging should share responsibility through an Extended Producer Responsibly (EPR) system. Those who profit from these products should also contribute to managing the waste they generate.

I also propose that every local council establish ward sanitation teams responsible for monitoring sanitation within their communities, promoting environmental awareness, and identifying and reporting environmental offences. Markets should likewise have dedicated sanitation teams to oversee waste management within market premises. Individuals and businesses engaged in waste collection and transportation, including operators of tricycles and donkey carts, should be registered with their respective local councils to help ensure that waste is transported and disposed of only at designated sites. Likewise, households in urban areas should be registered under their respective ward sanitation teams, while market shops should be registered under their respective market sanitation teams to help ensure that waste is collected and disposed of through approved waste management services.

Public awareness should go beyond environmental campaigns. Local councils should regularly use radio, television, social media, and other platforms to inform residents about designated waste collection points, collection schedules, and approved waste disposal services. Many residents may be willing to dispose of their waste responsibly but simply do not know nearest collection points are. Providing this information would improve public participation and reduce indiscriminate dumping.

Repeat littering should attract appropriate penalties, including fines and, where legally authorised, requiring offenders to clean public spaces under official supervision. Such measures would strengthen accountability while reinforcing the principle that protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility.
No institution can solve this challenges alone. The Nation Environment Agency, local councils, educational institutions, civil society, and communities must work together to strengthen environmental education, improve public awareness, and support practical waste management initiatives. Sustainable waste management is not solely the responsibility of government; it requires the active participation of every citizen.

Waste should no longer be viewed simply as something to discard. When managed properly, it becomes a valuable resource that protects public health, creates economic opportunities through recycling, and safeguards the environment for future generations.

The future of waste management in The Gambia will not be determined by how much waste we collect, but by how effectively we reduce, separate, recycle, and responsibly manage it. That is the shift we must make if we are serious about building a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable nation.