Monrovia City Corporation (MCC)
The Pitch
Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) developed a new waste management system, increased institutional capacity and ran an educational campaign to reduce the amount of garbage dumped around the city.
The Problem
Liberia’s civil war caused a breakdown of the garbage disposal system. Huge waste piles formed throughout neighborhoods, creating health hazards and dissuading residents from using public spaces. Monrovia, specifically, lacked a comprehensive waste management system, causing widespread and unmanaged waste dumping.
The Process
- Created a system of solid waste collection with a three-pronged approach: primary waste collection, secondary waste collection and development of public awareness about best practices
- Built a sanitary landfill for safe waste disposal
- Improved internal institutional and technical capacity to effectively construct and coordinate the new waste collection program
- Launched Community Based Enterprises: small resident-owned businesses that perform door-to-door garbage collection
The Impact
- Shifted residents’ perspectives on waste collection to a positive opportunity for employment
- Destigmatized waste collection
- Created new jobs that grew the local economy
- Drastically decreased the amount of waste being dumped in public spaces, reducing health hazards and improving residents’ quality of life
