The handing-over ceremony of the Kingtom Dumpsite and Sewage Pond Rehabilitation(photo) to contractors took place at Kingtom, Freetown on Tuesday, 5 June 2007. Stakeholders responsible for the project who attended the ceremony included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UK Department for International Development (DfID), Freetown City Council and GTZ.
UNDP, who is responsible for managing the ‘Transitional Solid Waste Disposal Scheme’, has received 150,000 pounds sterling in support from DfID to action the programme. This funding will allow for the reconstruction of the perimeter wall fence and sewage pond in the site, the rehabilitation of the all-weather road, walkways and drainages around the site, and the reconstruction of storage areas, sorting platforms, incinerators and compost pits.
In addition, UNDP has also committed to identify a new waste site, conduct an environmental impact assessment on the site, provide training and sensitization to the Kingtom community, and develop a revenue system for waste management for the area.
The Transitional Solid Waste Disposal Scheme was initially identified to improve the environmental sanitation system in Freetown, in a bid to reduce child mortality resulting from the high incidence of malaria and diarrhea prevalent in the country. The occurrence of these two and other water borne diseases are directly related to the poor quality of sanitation. This scheme aims to build a sustainable waste management system which will improve the conditions at the Kingtom Dumpsite, and identify sites and develop plans for a future longer-term solution.
Source: UNDP, Freetown.
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