The Lake Tanganyika Water Management project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Belgian Development Agency alongside the Lake Tanganyika Authority, is partnering with Mpulungu Town Council to carry out a solid waste quantification and composition in the city of Mpulungu. The partnership was formally concluded through an operational agreement signed by the Belgian Development Agency and Mpulungu Town Council earlier in January 2023.

The survey was officially launched on 16th January 2023 through the placement of the sorting bins. The survey is coordinated by the Latawama project and six environmental and health officers from Mpulungu Town Council and Mpulungu Health District. In total, more than 200 stations will be sampled. The survey follows an explicit protocol and methodology developed by the UNEP related to Waste Characterization and Quantification. Solid wastes are collected in a segregated way in clearly identifiable bins, and measurements are carried out every two days. Moreover, socioeconomic data, including the ability and willingness to pay for a solid waste management service, are collected and analyzed by using Open Data Kit.

This process is very crucial as it will provide credible, reliable, and accurate data for proper and well-informed planning and strategy development for the future of the sustainable and comprehensive community-based solid waste management system. The baseline study supports the “Ten Years strategic plan for sustainable and comprehensive community-based solid waste management for Mpulungu District Town” approved by Mpulungu Town Council in January 2021. This document outlines the strategies and plans to be implemented and the key stakeholders for achieving the goals set.