Bamenda waste management crisis: A humanitarian emergency
By Mboh Promise
The North West region of Cameroon, particularly its capital city, Bamenda, has been engulfed in a protracted Anglophone crisis since 2016, which later morphed into an armed conflict. This conflict pits government forces against armed groups, commonly described by the state of Cameroon as separatist fighters, who are fighting for the creation of the self-declared independent state of Ambazonia in the two English-speaking regions – North West and South West. Rooted in historical grievances and linguistic differences, the conflict has escalated into a full-blown humanitarian emergency, severely impacting the lives of thousands of civilians.
The toll of the conflict is devastating. Over 6,000 civilians killed, about 580,000 others displaced internally or forced to seek refuge across borders, according to Amnesty International. Both English-speaking regions have been witnessing violence, insecurity, and economic disruption for over eight years. Amidst this turmoil, a critical but often overlooked crisis has emerged: the collapse of waste management in Bamenda, the regional capital of the North West region.
Collapse of Waste Management Services
For several years, waste management in Bamenda was handled by HYSACAM, a parastatal company responsible for collecting, transporting, and disposing of municipal solid waste. However, after initially giving up in 2019, the company was forced to fully suspend its operations in 2022 in the city due to escalating insecurity. Kidnappings, attacks on personnel, and the destruction of equipment by armed groups led to enormous losses. Before halting activities, HYSACAM reported losses exceeding 300 million FCFA from damaged equipment alone, in addition to human casualties.
“Faced with these various attacks targeting the company, the Chairman and CEO, Mr. Michel Ngapanoun, has taken precautionary measures to secure staff and equipment. Activities have been suspended in Bamenda,” the company noted in a statement.
The departure of HYSACAM left Bamenda, the country’s third largest city with a population of about 636,145 inhabitants, without an effective waste management system. Garbage began accumulating in streets, markets, and residential neighborhoods, creating an environmental and public health disaster. The city’s population now faces the dire consequences of this collapse, with severe implications for their health, well-being, and quality of life.
Health risks and environmental impact
The World Health Organization, WHO has repeatedly warned that poor waste management can lead to the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, diarrhea, and other waterborne illnesses. According to WHO’s 2024 compendium on health and environment, over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste are produced globally each year, and improper disposal of this waste poses significant health risks, especially to vulnerable groups like children.
In Bamenda, the situation is compounded by limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services. Health professionals in the city report a surge in diseases linked to poor waste disposal. Dr. Nestor Bihle, an epidemiologist, describes the waste crisis as a “ticking time bomb,” warning of heightened risks for waterborne diseases and respiratory infections.
At the Bamenda Regional Hospital, clinicians, hygiene, and sanitary experts have observed a rise in typhoid, diarrhea, and other illnesses attributable to contaminated water and unsanitary conditions. “We receive patients with illnesses related to this daily. Poor waste management is widespread in Bamenda and directly contributes to the spread of diarrhea, typhoid, dysentery, and cholera,” explains Asanji Napoleon, sanitary expert. “Improperly managed waste affects everyone in the community, environmentally, health-wise, and economically. It weakens our labor force, reduces productivity, and ultimately harms the local economy.”
Environmental experts also caution about the long-term consequences of unchecked waste accumulation. Dr. Mapa Clarisse, a public health specialist, notes that “indiscriminate dumping of waste in Bamenda threatens both the environment and public health. Pollutants leach into soil and water sources, while decomposing waste releases harmful gases, further degrading air quality.”
While fighting the poor waste situation in the city of Bamenda, the International Organization for Migration, IOM, and UN-HABITAT said, “The disruption of public services and the increasing surge of migrants in Bamenda has led to the failure of waste collection services in the city. With no management infrastructure, garbage heaps have increased, posing a threat to health and the environment. Most of the generated waste is dumped in the neighbourhood and burned, resulting in littering, leakage of plastic in water bodies, and pollution”.
According to Enoh Paul, an environmental expert at the Northwest regional delegation of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, many water catchments in the city of Bamenda have been destroyed due to farming, construction, and the use of toxic chemicals. Citing these, Enoh said the population still violates these prescriptions by the ministry, though there are penalties and sanctions. He said such activities have contributed to the poor potable water in the city, adding to the already existing risks posed by the poor waste disposal.
A surge in malaria was reported in the Mezam Division in 2023, with Bambili, a university residential area, recording a prevalence of 70.7%.
In the heart of Bamenda, occupants of a popular building, which used to host several businesses at City Chemist roundabout, have left the place after floods chased them out of the building. The building has been standing helpless for about two years, just a few meters from a bridge that overflows, each time it rains heavily. The city council reportedly did some canalization of the drainage, but those living around say the situation has not changed.
In July 2024, a humanitarian emergency occurred at the Below Foncha neighbourhood in Bamenda III Subdivision, following heavy downpour wherein a famous stream in the neighborhood overflowed due to frequent dumping of waste in the stream. This led to the displacement of some inhabitants of the neighbourhood. It also destroyed their properties and material. Despite using an excavator to clear the refuge by the local council authorities, the situation worsened again months later, leaving many completely stranded in the neighborhood.
Experiences of Bamenda residents
The residents of Bamenda, especially those living near major waste accumulation points such as Mobile Nkwen, Bamenda Food Market, and the Mile 6 Mankon dump site, are bearing the brunt of the poor waste management crisis. Many report daily exposure to foul odors, unsightly garbage heaps, and increased insect infestations, which have heightened fears of disease.
Ngum Fru, a market vendor, shares her ordeal: “I have to walk through piles of garbage every day to get to my shop. It’s a nightmare. The smell is unbearable, and I worry constantly about my health and that of my children, who always stay back at home in our absence. I think the council is not doing their job well because the company in charge of waste in this city is incompetent”.
Another resident, who preferred to be called Fonkem, adds, “The waste piles breed mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. People dump trash beside my house every day despite my plea to stop. The company responsible comes irregularly. I can’t stop them from putting waste beside my house. I contacted the council to do something about this, but to date, nothing has been said. We need urgent solutions before it’s too late. Bamenda used to be one of the cleanest cities in this country, but we don’t really know what’s happening today. Authorities don’t care at all.”
The crisis is also impacting local businesses. Vendors and entrepreneurs at the Bamenda Food Market report losing customers who avoid areas near waste sites due to the smell and unhygienic conditions. Bih Judith, a restaurant owner, laments, “The waste management situation is severely hurting our business. Recently, my customers have been staying away because of the stench and filth. I fear losing all my customers if things don’t improve. Living in such dirty surroundings is exhausting. At times, we gather garbage here, but no one comes to collect it.”
Challenges facing the new waste management company
In response to the crisis, the Cameroonian government, through the Bamenda city council, contracted Empire Company LTD to take over waste management services in early 2023. However, the company faces enormous challenges in restoring order.
Herman, Head of Operations at Empire Company LTD, describes the difficulties: “When we started work, we were confronted with months’ worth of accumulated waste. We had to collect garbage from households and public collection points and transport it to only two dump sites – Mile 6 Mankon and Mbelewa in Nkwen. For a city like Bamenda, I think we need more dump sites.”
Security concerns remain a major obstacle. “Insecurity is a reality, but we focus on our mandate to collect garbage. We have identified hotspots where we try to navigate and operate, but the situation is challenging,” Herman says cautiously.
Herman further says civil disobedience by residents also complicates their efforts. Many households lack proper waste bins, and even where bins exist, people often dump garbage beside them or directly into streets, bridges, and gutters. Poor road conditions, especially during the rainy season, delay waste collection. “Sometimes it takes us four hours to reach the dump site in Mbelewa because the roads are blocked or in bad condition. We have called the attention of the city council several times, but the situation remains the same,” Herman explains.
The company’s workers also face dangers from road users who ignore traffic signs, and from residents who set waste on fire, forcing workers to extinguish flames before collecting trash. Despite these setbacks, Empire Company LTD feels it has not received adequate support from the city council and the population.
“We have requested injunctions and sanctions to restrict dumping in certain areas, but the council has not acted. We continue sensitizing the public about the importance of proper waste disposal, but garbage management is everyone’s responsibility. Without community cooperation, floods and health problems will persist. Recycling initiatives are being considered, but are currently not a priority given the magnitude of the crisis,” Herman emphasizes.
Local Organisations, Youth-led initiatives becoming a ray of hope
Despite the daunting challenges, youth-led organizations and local initiatives in Bamenda are stepping up to address the waste management crisis. Groups such as the International Student Environmental Coalition, the Cameroon Gender and Environmental Watch, Community Initiative for Sustainable Development are organizing clean-up campaigns, public sensitization programs, and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about sustainable waste management.
International Student Environmental Coalition has been organising several workshops, training youth and environmental advocates to engage in the transformation of plastic waste into tiles and pavements. This initiative has also been embraced by some local councils in the city.
Fon Nsoh, Coordinator of Community Initiative for Sustainable Development, expresses hope: “We are committed to protecting our environment and promoting sustainable practices. But we need the support of the community and authorities to make a real difference.” Said Fon Nsoh during sensitisation.
These grassroots efforts provide a glimmer of hope amid the crisis, demonstrating the resilience and determination of Bamenda’s youth to reclaim their city’s environment, though many continue to say the city must step up to address the situation.
“Bamenda’s waste management crisis is more than an environmental issue-it is a humanitarian emergency intertwined with the ongoing conflict and socio-political instability in the Northwest region of Cameroon. The collapse of formal waste services has exposed residents to severe health risks, degraded the environment, and undermined economic activity,” Enoh exclaimed.
As the population grapples with both crises, experts have continued to argue that addressing the waste management crisis requires coordinated action from government authorities, waste management companies, civil society, and the population at large. “Improving security, investing in infrastructure, enforcing regulations, and fostering community participation are critical steps toward restoring sanitation and protecting public health,” says Enoh.
