The second edition of the Environmental Lunch, themed "Innovation and Sustainable Urban Logistics," recently took place in Libreville, Gabon. The event focused on waste pre-collection in under-integrated neighborhoods as a potential source of employment for young people. The discussions were attended by various stakeholders, including students, entrepreneurs, and environmental experts. The event aimed to explore innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.
Mengona Prince Franck, a student at the Regional Institute of Accounting and Taxation Techniques, raised concerns about the insertion of young people into waste pre-collection activities. He expressed interest in learning about opportunities available to young individuals from under-integrated neighborhoods who wish to venture into this field. His inquiry sparked a lively discussion among the attendees.
Carole Eyi Mba, Director of Quality, Hygiene, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) at Clean Africa, responded to the student's concerns. She emphasized that individuals interested in waste pre-collection must first obtain official recognition from the Libreville city hall. This involves undertaking necessary procedures to acquire an agreement or official act that authorizes them to operate in the field.
According to Eyi Mba, the new master plan allows pre-collectors to operate in areas that are difficult for collection vehicles to access. This move also enables them to retain their client base, including small businesses such as brick factories and cafes. The pre-collectors play a crucial role in the waste management chain, and their activities complement those of Clean Africa.
To encourage pre-collectors to transport waste to designated centers, a remuneration of 8,000 FCFA per ton of collected waste is provided. This incentive aims to promote a more efficient waste collection system. Clean Africa is primarily responsible for collecting household waste, while pre-collectors focus on proximity collection.
The panel discussion featured several experts, including Dia Ambonguilat, manager of the ALFRED JOBS platform, Roch-Emmanuel Mve Mboro, Director General of RE2M and President of the Gabon Logistics Purchasing Club, and Carole Eyi Mba. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.
The discussions highlighted the potential for waste pre-collection to create employment opportunities for young people in Gabon. By providing a framework for pre-collectors to operate, the government and private sector can work together to promote a more efficient and sustainable waste management system. This initiative has the potential to contribute to the country's environmental and economic development.
Key points
- The Gabonese government and private sector are exploring opportunities for youth employment in waste pre-collection.
- Clean Africa is working with pre-collectors to promote a more efficient waste collection system.
- A remuneration of 8,000 FCFA per ton of collected waste is provided to encourage pre-collectors to transport waste to designated centers.
