Kumasi, Feb. 19, GNA - The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) owes small-scale waste collection contractors about GH¢60,645 being outstanding bills for July to December 2008.

Mr Anthony Mensah, Director in-charge of Waste Management Department of KMA, who announced this, said the contractors were engaged to sweep specified roads and side drains, focusing on the arterial roads within the metropolis.

He was launching a massive clean-up exercise scheduled for February 21 to 23 in Kumasi.

The exercise would be undertaken by KMA in collaboration with management of Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

Mr Mensah pointed out that the average monthly service cost of solid waste management, covering both collection and disposal, was about GH¢720,000 that far exceeded the assembly's budget which was dependent on the government.

He expressed concern about the irregular release of funds by government that often resulted in accumulated debts to contractors making waste management service delivery unsustainable to enhance a clean environment.

Mr Mensah said the assembly had an Engineered Sanitary Landfill Facility located at Oti near Dompoase and the current phase of the developed cells were expected to be operational for the next two years before the second phase would be installed.

However, he said development of the second phase expected to be completed by January 2011, could not be realised due to lack of funds and operation of the landfill facility had been contracted to a private contractor at an average monthly cost of GH¢300,000 based on GH¢7.2 per tonne of waste deposited at the site.

On strategies to combat challenges hampering effective waste management in the metropolis, Mr Mensah said the assembly intended to evacuate accumulated refuse located at about 40 transfer sites. In addition, the assembly had decided to purchase about 30,000 pieces of 240 litre household bins to support the house-to-house collection component at an estimated cost of GH¢3,000,000.

Mr Mensah said the central business district of the metropolis would be decongestion to ensure free flow of both human and vehicular traffic and reduction in waste generation to improve the aesthetic values of the metropolis. 19 Feb. 09