Until now, CTC’s monthly Ubuntu Days have been the only community-wide effort to take responsibility for environmental quality. The waste management contract is a sustainable solution to the city’s sanitation issues. From a health perspective, food and waste attracts pests and vermin, which can lead to the spread of disease in the community. Mosquitoes breed in anything that can hold water, like the inside of an old car tires or empty bottles. People can get diseases like tetanus and leptospirosis if they cut or scratch themselves on pieces of metal, nails or glass. Organized waste management will lead to improved community appearance and quality of life for residents. This is a great opportunity for the local community to see CTC making measurable change.
- With a loan from CTC, the youth program purchased the supplies necessary to run a waste management program: garbage truck, protective gear, etc.
- The local government collects taxes from residents and businesses for trash removal, which is then paid towards the loan, and eventually to self-sustain the project.
- CTC Waste Management program currently has 111 clients.
- CTC educates the community about properly disposing of trash bags to be collected, as opposed to throwing it in the streets.
- CTC is currently also introducing basic composting techniques to community members.
- Every home and business in Maai Mahiu has a reusable trash container.
- Currently CTC employs 20 staff, 17 of whom are youth.
CTC has received over 237 job applications for the waste management project.
Future plans include a recycling program. We're currently doing research on a Community Cooker, which will recover energy from waste collected, providing a stove top, hot water for showers, and create jobs and income for the community.
