Freetown City Council (FCC) is introducing to the public the Solid and Liquid Waste Collection Byelaws of 2024.

It is reinforcing its dedication to establishing a cleaner and safer city, Freetown. These bylaws aim to modernize waste management and a citywide movement through a public-private partnerships implementation.

Under the new Waste Byelaw, all Freetown residents and businesses must register and pay for waste collection services through FCC-approved waste management firms under Council oversight. The city has been restructured into 8 waste management blocks to enhance waste service delivery.

The bylaws seek to prohibit the dumping of waste on the streets, in gutters, waterways, or public spaces, as well as banning the burning of wastes, due to environmental and health concerns.

Additionally, other ban include: cooking, selling, or trading in unauthorized public areas; parking or repairing vehicles on streets; using roads as washing areas or garages; and storing building materials or conducting welding activities in public spaces.

Council says violators may face fines up to Nle 5,000, or a six months imprisonment, or both for violating the new bylaws under implementation.

In her remarks on the new system, Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said, “the new bylaws and the start of our operation, coded #DortiMusGo, marks another milestone in our journey to improve waste management in Freetown.”

“We are taking bold, practical steps to tackle our waste challenges head-on, thus creating cleaner communities, by protecting our environment, and on improving our public health facilities.”

To ensure effective enforcement of the bylaws, FCC in the coming weeks is launching a comprehensive city-wide communication activities, thus incorporating social media and traditional media campaigns, to raise awareness and educate residents about the new bylaws.