Household waste management in the cities of Guinea: Case of the city of Kamsar – Republic of Guinea – West Africa

Household waste management in Kamsar is a major challenge, with more than 70% of waste not collected. This turns public spaces into real dumping grounds, thereby harming the environment and the inhabitants’ quality of life. In the face of rapid urbanization, local authorities requested assistance from SMEs and the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG) to develop a sustainable waste management strategy. In this context, the company SONARC was engaged in August 2024 to improve sanitation in the city. Nevertheless, despite these initiatives, the collection systems do not cover all the districts of Kamdar. To better assess the situation, a study was carried out combining documentary research, direct observation and field surveys, which included interviews with managers of the structure involved in waste collection and surveys of households.

The results reveal that 67% of the households surveyed are subscribed to SONARC, but many adopt non-conventional practices. The collection frequency varies, and 33% of the non-subscribed households throw their waste in inappropriate areas such as railway tracks, vacant spaces, illegal dumps and mangroves. Moreover, CBG produces industrial waste, some of which residual materials may be hazardous. The study also highlights disparities in waste collection, revealing a duality between the wealthy districts (the “cite” quarters) and those of lower status (the rest of the city), underscoring the urgency of sustainable solutions to ensure a healthy environment in Kamdar.

However, several assets exist to improve the waste management system, such as the willingness of many households to pay for waste collection, the involvement of women, as well as a high youth and education rate in the population.