After the installation of the public trash cans in the town of Mukaza, the administrator gives the balance sheet. “There is a slight improvement, but we have not yet reached our goal,” he said

In his project to administer a clean and prosperous city, the administrator of the Mukaza commune, Rénovat Sindayihebura, initiated a project to install public trash cans in strategic corners of the municipality. A total of 120 public trash cans have been installed. In addition, the Mukaza municipality administration intends to install 50 more trash cans before the end of June. This was decided following the lamentations of the population who considered that these trash cans were far from each other.

However, in the various places where these trash cans have been installed in the city center, they are almost full and most often overflow. Some are rusty, in poor condition and show signs of impending destruction. Elsewhere in the corners that are far from the city center or in the outlying neighborhoods, these trash cans are like scarecrows, and trees are growing all around. Passengers seem to be wary of it.

So many challenges to overcome

“It is a step forward because there are trash cans that are full”, rejoices the administrator. However, he regrets that the waste in these bins is not what was intended. He explains that some individuals have made these trash cans their landfills. He points to the street vendors selling vegetables and fruits who throw peelings into these trash cans. “It is good that they were aware that they were not throwing this waste anywhere but, for us, it is becoming one too much burden”, adds the administrator of the Mukaza municipality. He explains that normally individuals should have contracts with waste collection companies and trash cans should only be used by passers-by.

All these constraints mean that sometimes the unloading of these trash cans is not done as it should be. Instead of unloading once after three or four days as planned, unloading is done daily. Otherwise, the administrator justifies the overflow of these trash cans. In this case, it criminalizes the dilapidated vehicles that collect waste, which break down. Otherwise, this administrative officer indicates that in these situations, it uses the services of private companies that collect household waste. “It is a service that they provide to us optionally,” he said. As a result, unloading may be delayed.

As for the condition of the trash cans that are likely to be damaged, Sindayihebura admits that the best quality would be plastic. But with the high degree of vandalism and the lack of respect for public affairs in the city of Bujumbura, the metal trash can is the best solution since it can be concreted into the ground, he explains. It says that even the lids on these trash cans were replaced and welded after they were stolen or vandalized.

Attempts at solutions on the horizon

“We intend to support the staff who clean the streets, starting with the women who clean the roads, boulevards and avenues, the people who clean the gutters,...”

The City Council decided that in each municipality, there can be a rigorous organization that brings together all the staff in charge of cleaning, who will then sign a contract with the municipality. Part of this cooperative will have the duty to collaborate with the police and local administration to identify people who defy the line of conduct and punish them with an administrative fine of 10,000 Bu. The Mukaza administrator is confident: “Once this agreement is signed, we think that things will get on track”, he said.

As for trash cans that rust very quickly, he indicates that the solution that is available at the moment is that after a certain period of time, the trash cans are washed and painted with another anti-rust agent.

As for the people who still throw waste into the streets, the administrator calls for the responsibility of each citizen. It also calls on social influencers (civil society, grassroots administration, leaders of religious faiths, etc.) to take the lead in raising awareness among citizens and financial institutions to support this beneficial project for everyone who works in the municipality.