By Okentu Mohamed Sourie Bangura,PhD
As a preventionist, I am safe to submit that for every growing city, effective waste management is essential to protecting public health and preserving the environment. However, in Freetown, concerns continue to soar over the location of major waste disposal sites situated close to densely populated communities, particularly around the Ferry Terminal intersection, aka ‘Bomeh’ (in the eastern part of Freetown) and Kingtom, in the north-west section of Freetown. While these facilities play a critical role in managing the city’s waste, many residents, public health advocates, and environmental experts have questioned whether it is appropriate for large dumpsites to operate so close to homes, schools, markets, and businesses.
For decades, I have observed that people living near these sites are frequently exposed to unpleasant odours, smoke from burning waste, dust, insects, rodents, and other environmental hazards. And this is hazardous to some vulnerable groups such as: newborn babies, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems, who may face greater health risks from prolonged exposure to poor environmental conditions. As Freetown continues to expand, many stakeholders believe it is time for the Government of Sierra Leone, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the Ministry of Health, the National Sanitation Agency, and the Freetown City Council (FCC) to evaluate whether alternative waste disposal facilities located farther from densely populated areas would better protect public health while supporting sustainable urban development in Freetown.
Why The Location of Urban Dumpsites Matters?
Waste disposal sites are necessary for every city, but international urban planning practices generally recommend that large landfill or waste treatment facilities be carefully located, designed, and managed to minimise impacts on surrounding communities, as these countries (The United States of America, at the Puente Hills Landfill in California, Singapore in the Semakau Landfill, China in the Antuo Ling Landfill in Beijing, South Africa in the Marie Louise and Chloorkop Landfills, and the United Kingdom in the Burdale Landfill) did.
What I have noticed is that, as residential neighbourhoods expand, dumpsites that were once located on the outskirts of the city can eventually become surrounded by homes and businesses. This increases the number of people exposed to environmental nuisances and potential health hazards if waste is not properly managed. Residents living near major dumpsites often report persistent foul smells, increased flies and mosquitoes, smoke from occasional waste burning, excessive dust, and noise from heavy machinery and waste collection vehicles. These conditions may reduce quality of life and raise legitimate concerns about long-term environmental health.
Health Implications for Residents at these sites in Freetown:
Living near poorly managed dumpsites may expose nearby communities to a range of environmental and public health risks. Although not every resident will experience illness, prolonged exposure to polluted air, contaminated water, and disease vectors can increase health concerns. In my Environmental Health class, I was schooled that open waste attracts flies, cockroaches, rats, and other pests capable of spreading infectious diseases. And during the rainy season, leachate liquid (contaminated dark water) is produced when rainwater passes through waste, which may contaminate nearby surface water or groundwater if appropriate containment systems are absent or inadequate.
Smoke produced by open burning of waste can contain fine particulate matter and other pollutants that irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. And continuous exposure may worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, particularly among susceptible individuals. Therefore, this manifest that poorly managed waste also contributes to unpleasant living conditions, affecting both physical and mental well-being for residents in these dumping sites in Freetown.
Why Vulnerable Groups in These Communities Face Greater Risks?
Certain members of society are more susceptible to environmental pollution than others. For instance, a) Neonates (Newborn Babies) and Young Children: Infants and young children have developing immune and respiratory systems, making them more sensitive to polluted air and environmental contaminants. Exposure to poor air quality may increase the likelihood of respiratory infections and other health complications.
- Pregnant Women: Pregnant women require clean environments to support healthy pregnancies. Exposure to smoke, poor air quality, and certain environmental pollutants has been associated with increased health concerns in pregnancy, making cleaner surroundings particularly important for maternal and child health.
- Older Adults: Many elderly people already live with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or chronic respiratory conditions. Air pollution and environmental stressors may worsen these existing medical conditions and increase hospital visits, which is another financial burden for residents in these communities.
- People with Weakened Immune Systems: Individuals undergoing treatment for chronic illnesses or living with weakened immune systems may be less able to fight infections associated with poor environmental sanitation. Therefore, maintaining clean surroundings is therefore especially important for protecting these vulnerable populations in the Ferry Terminal (‘Bomeh’) and Kingtom dumping sites.
Social and Environmental Challenges
The continued operation of major dumpsites within densely populated areas creates several environmental and social challenges such as: Firstly, unpleasant odours reduce residents’ quality of life and may discourage investment in nearby communities. Secondly, waste accumulation attracts scavenging animals and increases pest populations. And finally, uncontrolled burning of waste contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Heavy trucks transporting waste also increase road congestion and accelerate the deterioration of surrounding roads. During heavy rainfall, poorly managed waste can block drainage systems, contributing to flooding and environmental pollution. The communities located nearby these dumpsites may also experience declining property values and reduced business opportunities as potential investors seek cleaner environments elsewhere.
The Challenges Government Authorities are Encountering:
Relocating a major dumpsite is not a simple undertaking. Government institutions (such as FCC and the National Sanitation Agency) responsible for waste management must balance environmental protection with practical considerations such as land availability, financial resources, transportation costs, and engineering requirements.
Suitable landfill sites require extensive environmental impact assessments, proper waste containment systems, road access, drainage infrastructure, and long-term operational planning. The relocation plan also requires consultation with affected communities to ensure that environmental burdens are not simply transferred from one population to another. In addition, Freetown continues to generate increasing volumes of waste as its population grows, placing enormous pressure on existing waste management systems of the city.
The Case for Relocating Waste Disposal Facilities: Many environmental specialists argue that large waste disposal facilities should, where feasible, be located away from densely populated residential areas while remaining accessible for efficient waste collection. If future landfill sites are developed on the outskirts of Freetown using modern sanitary landfill technology, they could include engineered liners to reduce groundwater contamination, systems for collecting and treating leachate, controlled gas management, regular waste compaction, and improved environmental monitoring.
Such facilities would better protect nearby communities while supporting more sustainable waste management practices. Relocation should be accompanied by careful planning to avoid creating similar problems in new locations and should comply with national environmental regulations and international best practices as it happens in the aforementioned countries.
Remedies for Sustainable Waste Management:Firstly, tackling this challenge requires coordinated action from the Government of Sierra Leone, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the Ministry of Health, the National Sanitation Agency, the Freetown City Council (FCC), environmental regulators, and local communities.
Secondly, the government should invest in modern sanitary landfill facilities outside densely populated residential areas, supported by comprehensive environmental impact assessments and continuous monitoring. Waste segregation at the household level should be encouraged so that recyclable materials, organic waste, and hazardous waste are managed appropriately.
Thirdly, recycling industries and composting programmes should be expanded to reduce the amount of waste requiring landfill disposal. Public education campaigns should promote responsible waste disposal and discourage illegal dumping.
And finally, regular air and water quality monitoring around existing waste facilities should also be strengthened to identify potential environmental risks early and guide evidence-based policy decisions. Healthcare outreach programmes for nearby communities could provide health education and periodic medical screening for residents.
By and large, Freetown’s growing population demands a waste management system that protects both public health and the environment. While the city’s major dumpsites perform an essential public service, their location within or near densely populated communities has raised understandable concerns about environmental quality and the well-being of residents in these communities in Tikonkor (Sierra Leone).
Neonates, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality, pests, and other environmental hazards associated with inadequately managed waste disposal sites. These concerns deserve careful scientific assessment and thoughtful policy responses in order to address them.
A long-term strategy that combines modern waste management infrastructure, stronger environmental regulation, improved recycling, public education, and the careful siting of future disposal facilities outside heavily populated areas offers the best opportunity to safeguard public health while ensuring that Freetown remains a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable capital for our current and future generations of our darling Tikonkor.
As I sign off for today,please make sure to Stay Healthy, Stay Safe and Be Happy. Cheers.