Fiamah Gets New Composting Plant as EPA, MCC, Partners Push "Waste-to-Wealth" Drive

Article by Daily Observer, published in Liberian Observer on March 24, 2026. See the original article here.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) have commissioned a modern organic composting facility designed to reduce pressure on the city’s landfill.  

According to an EPA press release, the facility aims to mitigate disease risks and transform organic waste into valuable fertilizer for local farmers. The project is backed by technical and financial support from the Government of Canada through the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for Climate Action Project in Liberia.

“The new plant is designed to help the city transition from open dumping to organized waste recovery and recycling,” the release said.

Speaking at the commissioning, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Yarkpawolo described the facility as more than an infrastructure addition, calling it proof that Liberia can adopt practical systems that protect the environment while creating economic benefits. 

“Today is not just about opening a facility; it’s about validating a new model for Liberia,” Yarkpawolo said, noting that the EPA’s technical oversight and regulatory guidance helped shape an approach that is environmentally sound and workable. 

He assured residents that the EPA and partners are preparing additional initiatives to increase the share of municipal waste recycled rather than discarded.

MCC Mayor John-Charuk Siafa, whose administration has prioritized sanitation reforms, told community members that the plant strengthens the city’s capacity to address waste as a public health concern. 

“We are waging a determined war on waste because it is a public health issue and a shared responsibility,”

Siafa said, linking the initiative to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, particularly Pillar 5 on environmental sustainability. 

The mayor said the facility will support the production of compost for agriculture, reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills and transfer stations, lower disposal costs over time, and contribute to climate action by reducing methane emissions generated when waste decomposes untreated.

For its part, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), which provided the land for the facility, also underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in delivering results. LWSC Deputy Managing Director for Administration T. Wilson Gaye said the institution did not hesitate to make space available, describing the project as vital to improved city services and environmental protection. 

Also speaking at the event, International Pilot Lead Chris Godlove, representing the Solid Waste Management Transformative Project, called the commissioning a milestone in waste management innovation and credited government leadership and partner coordination for bringing the pilot into operation.

A significant policy signal also came from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), where Assistant Minister for Development Planning Hon. Wellington Barchu said the government is moving toward stronger budget backing for sanitation.

Citing Program 36 under the ARREST Agenda, Barchu pledged to champion dedicated funding for solid waste management in the 2027 national budget, arguing that sanitation infrastructure should be viewed as a long-term investment in national health and development.

Community-based enterprises and sector stakeholders attending the event welcomed the facility as both a practical response to long-standing waste bottlenecks and a new source of opportunity, particularly for small operators and waste workers who stand to benefit from a more structured recovery system. 

With the facility now commissioned, EPA and MCC officials say public cooperation, especially proper waste separation and improved disposal habits, will be critical to making the project effective and scalable across Monrovia and beyond.