Date of Publication :31st July 2023

Abstract: The greatest challenge to waste management in Cameroon’s cities has been the collection and evacuation of solid waste from the interior areas especially, ghettos to the public waste deposit sites where the state’s agencies further disposes of it. The hurdle is partly exacerbated by poor road access and limited priority by state’s institutions over waste management leading to socio-environmental consequences such as health nuisance, insalubrity and floods. This paper analyses the contribution of a local waste management strategy termed “Communal Waste Collection and Evacuation” (CWCE) and the difficulties impeding its expansion in the Yaoundé III community. The study adopts an analytical method relying on primary and secondary sources. From field observations and oral discussions, it was revealed that though the CWCE option was facilitated by social capital, guided by the social solidarity theory, the strategy suffered financial and technical lapses. Despite the shortcomings, the method appears to have a high value that extends from simple waste management to the inclusion and integration of commoners, representing a bottom-up approach to sustainable urbanization. The CWCE strategy thus enables policymakers to easily execute projects at the grassroot and facilitate the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper suggests that local initiatives in managing waste in urban spheres are urgent to mitigate spillover effects like climate change. The study serves as an entry point to the local agenda 21, targeting the role of local authorities and local initiatives in promoting socially and environmentally stable communities.

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