Published: July 14, 2025
MONROVIA — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), and several community-based enterprises, has launched a Canada-funded waste management project aimed at tackling sanitation issues and generating jobs in Monrovia.
The groundbreaking for the Solid Waste Management Transformative Pilot Project took place Friday, July 11, at the Jorkpen Town Market. Funded through Canada’s Novasphere initiative and implemented under the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Climate Action framework, the project aims to modernize waste disposal while creating economic opportunities for urban communities.
A Model for Clean, Circular Cities
Christopher Godlove, core lead of the pilot project, turned over the site to contractor Vintage Group of Companies, describing the initiative as a “model for sustainable waste solutions in Liberia.”
“This project will lead the way to new approaches for managing waste not only in Monrovia but across the country,” Godlove said. “It will create jobs, support local businesses, and help us tackle some of our most pressing challenges.”
He stressed the importance of collaboration between the EPA, MCC, LMA, and community-based enterprises (CBEs), which he said are vital to building a circular economy around waste.
“We rely on the expertise and knowledge of CBEs to create business out of waste,” Godlove added. He urged the contractor to deliver a durable facility on time, saying the true test will come after construction.
“When I return in two or three years, I want to see this facility still standing as a guiding light for waste management in Monrovia.”
Canada’s Support for a Cleaner Liberia
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Canada and the MRV Solid Waste Action Team, Vermon Sangah Lloyd praised the project’s multi-agency collaboration and outlined the strategic goal of building a replicable waste solution.
“Waste management is a national priority,” Lloyd said. “This facility will serve as a model for future waste litigation and recycling efforts in Liberia.”
She commended Novasphere and Canada’s commitment to environmental sustainability and challenged the Vintage Group to meet delivery expectations.
“We are turning over this site to you with great confidence,” she said. “The expectations are high, and the timeline is tight.”
MCC Applauds Community-Driven Efforts
Jones N. Williams, deputy city mayor and city manager of the MCC, thanked the EPA and LMA for their leadership, particularly EPA Deputy Executive Director Dweh Boley and the women vendors who defended the site from political interference.
“These market women stood their ground to make this possible,” Williams said. “This project is deeply personal. My mother was a market woman, and so was the mother of Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan.”
“This is about the people who sacrifice every day. They deserve better sanitation and economic opportunity.”
EPA: Waste Crisis Demands Urgent Action
EPA Deputy Executive Director Dweh Siehwloh Boley underscored the urgency of addressing Monrovia’s growing waste crisis and called for community ownership once the facility is completed.
“We are heading toward a sanitation crisis,” Boley warned. “Even the best facility is useless without proper maintenance. If we fail to care for it, we waste donor support.”
He appealed to the LMA and market communities to take responsibility for the site and treat it as a shared asset.
LMA’s Determination and Call for Innovation
LMA President Elizabeth Sambolah recalled the political resistance faced in securing the site and reaffirmed the association’s unwavering support.
“No politician could stop us,” Sambolah said. “We stood firm for the benefit of the people.”
She dismissed the perception that marketers alone are responsible for street filth and called for more public engagement in waste responsibility. Sambolah also urged partners to support the installation of modern recycling equipment.
“We need a recycling machine like they have in neighboring countries,” she said. “Give us the tools—we’ll provide the land and labor.”
Backed by Data, Built for the Future
An organic waste baseline study conducted at four major Monrovia markets—Old Road, Fiamah, Rally Town, and West Point—revealed that these sites generate approximately 89.3 kilograms of organic waste daily, largely made up of fruits, leafy greens, and vegetables.
“These numbers matter,” Lloyd said. “They show we have the raw material for composting, for building soil, and for creating value from waste.”
Officials say the pilot project not only aims to clean up Monrovia but to redefine how waste is viewed—as a resource, not a burden.
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