NW Mayors, FEDEV promise to combat plastic waste proliferation.

The local authorities took the commitment during a two-day workshop on June 8 and 9 in Bamenda. It was organised by Foundation for Environment and Development, FEDEV.

The event took place in the presence of the Regional Delegate of Decentralisation and Local Development, Mbole Pius, and other partners like the Regional Delegate of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, United Cities and Councils of Cameroon, UCCC, and Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, ELAW.

The workshop, which took place under the theme: "Plastic waste management: Laws, policies" brought together mayors and representatives from all 34 councils in the North West Region.

According to Barrister Nchunu Justice Sama, Executive Director of FEDEV, the aim of the workshop was to engage the stakeholders on effective response to the current global plastic crisis and the growing environmental problems caused by plastic pollution.

"Local authorities in Cameroon are statutorily responsible for environmental clean-up, sanitary inspection, waste management, spatial planning and the fight against pollution within their respective municipalities," Barrister Nchunu said.

During the two-day event, they discussed on the situation of plastic pollution in the region, the legal framework for plastic waste management in Cameroon, role of local authorities in managing plastic waste, women and plastic waste, challenges of plastic waste management by councils and others.

The Regional Delegate of Decentralisation and Local Development schooled the Mayors on their roles in plastic waste management, while Barrister Tamon Olivia discussed on the legal framework for plastic and waste management in Cameroon.

Mayors present best practices  

Amongst the 34 councils in the North West Region, one council per Division presented their experience and best practice on waste management in their municipalities.

Tubah and Nkambe councils were lauded for standing high in their waste management projects, while others were advised to emulate the steps taken by the two councils.

The Mayors were then grouped into their Divisions, as they raised some of their challenges in tackling waste management as insufficient sensitisation, insecurity, lack of trainings, poor road networks and the issue of dumping sites, among others.

"I realised during the workshop that what we are doing at the level of my council is not enough. I think that from the presentations we are going back to take a different perspective and also other friendly methods on how to tackle waste management," Menyong Lawrence, Mayor of Nwa Council, said.

At the end of the workshop, the Mayor of Fundong, Ndang Denis, who doubles as president of UCCC, assured that all the councils will engage a Memorandum of Understanding with FEDEV to beat waste management in the region.

The Regional Delegate of Decentralisation and Local Development urged the Mayors to take the initiative to their communities and make sure that the resolutions are implemented.