The West African Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP II) programme, which spans The Gambia, Ghana, and Guinea-Bissau, has launched a community-led clean-up of the 11.2-kilometre Kotu Stream corridor. This initiative includes Manjai, Dippa Kunda, Bakoteh, London Corner, Latrikunda Yiringanya, Latrikunda Ebrima Njie, Sukuta, Nema Kunku, Latrikunda Sabiji, and Bundung Borehole. Lamin Komma of the National Environment Agency stated, "Previously, they used to concentrate on the open coast. That is from Barra all the way to Kartong, which is about 80 kilometres long. But this year, we want to focus more on the coastal stream." He added, "We are seeing how this stream is littered with all kinds of waste." Haruna Cham, a social development specialist for the WACA project, noted, "A lot of waste is illegally dumped."
Escalating Plastic Waste Crisis
The Gambia generated approximately 23,000 tonnes of plastic waste, contributing to the environmental strain on local waterways. To address this mounting challenge, the Gambian government launched a national action plan in 2024 aimed at curbing plastic pollution across the country. This policy framework seeks to coordinate waste management efforts and mitigate the impact of debris on coastal ecosystems. Lamin Komma of the National Environment Agency emphasized the necessity of public participation in these conservation efforts. Regarding the limitations of state-led interventions, Lamin Komma stated, "The National Environment Agency cannot do it alone." Officials intend for the initiative to engage local communities in sustained waste reduction practices, building on the broader objectives established by the national action plan.
New Waste Management Initiatives
The West African Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP II) handed over new waste management equipment to local authorities in July. This delivery included compactor trucks, public dustbins, wheelbarrows, and tricycles intended to improve collection services within the communities along the Kotu Stream corridor. The deployment of these assets aims to provide municipal councils with the necessary resources to prevent refuse from accumulating in drainage systems and entering the Atlantic Ocean.
Future waste management challenges remain significant as national consumption patterns evolve. Projections suggest that the volume of plastic waste generated in The Gambia could rise by 42 per cent by 2033. Authorities intend for the newly distributed equipment to assist in managing this anticipated increase in debris, supporting the broader objectives of the national action plan launched in 2024. By enhancing the capacity of local councils to service residential and commercial areas, the government seeks to reduce the reliance on informal dumping sites that currently contribute to the pollution of inland waterways. These efforts represent a shift toward localized waste infrastructure, moving beyond coastal clean-up operations to address the source of pollutants in high-density zones.