DR Congo: Kinshasa residents sound alarm over mounting rubbish crisis - Video
In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, residents raise their voices against an escalating rubbish crisis that has left the city overwhelmed with waste.
The situation has reached critical levels, with plastic, discarded shopping bags, and cardboard boxes piling up in neighbourhoods and clogging waterways.
Home to approximately 17 million people, Kinshasa produces around 7,800 tons of municipal solid waste daily. However, the city, like many African cities lacks a centralised waste collection system, leading to the accumulation of rubbish in unofficial dumps and rivers.
Unmanaged waste has severe consequences for public health. Clogged drains lead to frequent flooding, especially in poorer neighbourhoods, exacerbating the spread of diseases such as cholera, malaria, and typhoid. The stench from the waste is unbearable, and the sight of children and animals foraging through the rubbish is a common and distressing scene.
Local NGOs and small rubbish collection businesses are trying to tackle the problem. For instance, JPM Services, an NGO involved in the Kin Bopeto (Clean Kinshasa) project, collects rubbish in two communes. However, without proper disposal facilities, these efforts often end up contributing to the unofficial dumps.
Residents have also expressed their frustration and disgust at the deteriorating conditions.
"It's disgusting," said Roger Odiekila, standing near an unofficial rubbish dump in the Kintambo district,
The sentiment is echoed by many who feel that the city's beauty has been marred by the overwhelming presence of waste.
