Green Cities Incorporated has launched a five-day composting engagement strategy training in Ganta, Nimba County, designed to strengthen community-led waste management and support the implementation of Liberia’s Local Climate Action Plan (LCAP).
The training, held at the Concern Women Center, brings together 75 participants including women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Sessions combine classroom lectures and field exercises, focusing on practical skills in composting, waste segregation, and business opportunities in sustainable waste management.
Mr. Oliver Williyan, Waste Specialist at Green Cities Inc., explained that the program builds on earlier stakeholder engagements with the Ganta City Authority, Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), and local communities.
“We want to help communities turn waste into wealth by focusing on the biodegradable component mainly food waste that can be transformed into organic fertilizer through composting. Instead of depending on chemical fertilizers like NPK, this training introduces natural composting methods that support crops while protecting the environment.” Williyan said.
He noted that an assessment across Liberia’s 15 counties identified Nimba and Grand Bassa as pilot areas due to their high levels of cross-border trade and food-related waste generation.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Boyle Guanue Sr., Green Cities’ focal person for Nimba, emphasized that the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve solid waste management across Liberia.
“Green Cities, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada, is exploring the establishment of waste management factories in Nimba and Grand Bassa. This training not only equips participants with composting skills but also lays the foundation for recycling initiatives.” Guanue said.
According to him, the 75 selected participants will serve as community waste management ambassadors, tasked with raising awareness, collecting waste, and promoting composting within their communities. Guanue also disclosed that negotiations are underway to secure land for a proposed waste management facility in Ganta, in line with the government’s ARREST agenda for environmental sustainability.
The weeklong sessions cover both theory and practice, lessons including Introduction to Composting and Waste Management Principles, Composting Techniques and Economic Opportunities, Hands-on Waste Auditing and Compost Pile Setup, Compost Management, Use, and Business Development among others.
The training, conducted in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), runs until September 2, 2025. It is expected to build community resilience, improve sanitation, and create income-generating opportunities through compost-based fertilizer production.
Written By: P Uriah Suah/suahuriah86@gmail.com
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