Cameroonian youths use social media to tackle plastic waste, demand cleaner cities
Jabi Katy Chale
A wave of digital activism is sweeping through Cameroon’s social media landscape, as young people turn their lenses to a growing urban menace, plastic pollution, and poor waste management.
In recent weeks, Cameroonian youths have launched a visual campaign tagged #poubelleChallenge, using platforms as Facebook and WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram to post photos and videos of themselves standing next to garbage heaps, many of which contain large volumes of plastic waste. What began informally in Yaoundé is now spreading to other cities, gradually evolving into a digital tool for authorities to be accountable and pushing for change.
Also read: Activists, celebrities, and influencers mobilise viral campaigns to stop waste from invading cities
One social media user wrote, “I am walking by myself and a trash can calls out to me saying, ‘please take my picture, I am the most beautiful trash can. We are all going to take selfies with the trash since it’s part of our heritage. Don’t be ashamed, our town is a mess.” Another post reads “#Trash challenge in Cameroon. Sad for the continent. Our leaders don’t care about the people. Yet billions are being embezzled every day.” A third user added, “If your art isn’t intended to positively transform the community or society around you, then you haven’t yet grasped the impact of art on society. #PoubelleChallenge”
Plastic waste and poor disposal remain a major environmental concern in Cameroon. From single-use water sachets and bottles to household packaging materials, the streets of major cities like Yaoundé, Douala, and Buea are frequently littered with non-biodegradable waste that clogs drains and pollutes rivers and accumulates in large, unmanaged heaps across neighborhoods. According to the United Nations, Cameroon produces about 6 million tons of waste annually, with only 15% of this waste being recovered and properly disposed of.
Despite the informal nature of the campaign, it seems to have yielded some fruits. Reports suggest that cleanups were carried out along sections of Ndongbong-Makepe road, and other major streets in Douala. For some this is a testament of the power of digital advocacy and youth-led environmental pressure.
However, the question of sustainability remains. Journalist Giyo Nzdi, in a social media write-up, questioned the long-term impact of such efforts. “Even the campaign on waste management is designed (for lack of better words to describe the unplanned move) to last but a short time. After posting the picture or video of you by the pin, what next?”.
While the initiative is commendable, environmental advocates agree that lasting impact will depend on structured follow-up, government and community engagement, and improved waste management systems, particularly for plastics which has constant increased production.
Most Cameroonian urban areas have employed the services of a refuse collection and management company, HYSACAM, whose services have not been felt in recent months. Sources say some City councils owe them money, while in other places like Buea and Bamenda, in the North West and South West regions, insecurity has pushed them to reduce or completely withdraw their services, leaving the people with no alternative.
