The garbage dump of Mbeubeuss in Dakar may be an eyesore to some, but it’s a haven to others due to its sheer size. Covering over 70 hectares of land and receiving close to 1,300 tons of garbage daily, Mbeubeuss is a land of opportunity.
Thousands of collectors and recyclers: women, men and children alike meet here everyday and go about their business of sorting out plastics metal and whatever else can be savoured. Malick Diallo is one of the oldest waste pickers at the dump. His thirty years at the dump have earned him the top job as head of the recyclers association.
“Someone said that nothing is lost, everything is transformed. We wait for the trucks to dump the waste. We do the sorting on site to earn some money with what we recycle. For example, we can make some money out of the plastic bags, also out of the scrap, chromium, steel, and much more.” Mr. El hadj Malick Diallo, President, Association of Recyclers Association in Mbeubeuss
It may be the source of livelihood for most of the collectors there? Recent statistics quote the economy from this Mbeubeuss garbage dump to be about seven million Francs a year. However health factors like the unsanitary conditions and harmful exposure to Zinc and Iron make it a big reason for worry for the people of Malika.
“We are tired. Over here, everybody is ill. the Health Authorities even came over to inform us that the tap water we are drinking is not of good quality. Now, before drinking water, we are obliged to add bleach, and all because of this garbage dump.” Mr. Abdoulaye Diallo, nearby dweller
“All we ask for, is that they relocate Mbeubeuss. We are tired of the smoke, we are also tired of the dust. Our children are ill : they have diarrhea and suffer from asthma. And we are all aware that smoke and asthma don’t go together.” Mariou Ndiaye, nearby dweller
Senegal has partnered with the World Bank in order to find a sustainable alternative to the garbage dump of Mbeubeuss as this site is soon expected to host a biogas plant.
“As a result of the analyses made, Mbeubeuss is confirmed to be an ecological bomb. As you can see through the images there are fires caused by spontaneous combustion and those also caused by individuals. This naturally pollutes the atmosphere because there is the release of greenhouse gas. Face with this environmental disaster, since 2007, the state of Senegal has decided to take up its responsibilities and initiate a process that will help manage negative environmental and social impacts. ” Mr. Ibrahima Diagne, Coordinator, Solid Waste Management Coordination Unit
The government may have heeded calls to relocate the dump but the search of better and more viable solutions for the dump continues.
