The Executive Director of the National Environment Agency (NEA) Momodou B. Sarr, has said that numerous reports received form the general public and confirmed by the agency’s own observations, have revealed that most of the littering in the streets and along major roads is caused by waste collection vehicles.

He reiterated that the spreading of litter from unsuitable waste vehicles is an offence under the recently passed anti-littering regulations, and carries a fine of between D5000.00 and D30, 000.00, with an additional mandatory requirement for the offenders to remove all the litter within 24 hours.

As empowered under the National Environment management Act (NEMA, 1994) and its Anti-Littering regulations, the NEA therefor notifies that all vehicles used for waste collection by both municipal councils and private waste collectors must be registered at the NEA at no cost.

The NEA Executive Director further revealed that during the registration exercise, new guidelines dealing with waste collection and transport of domestic and commercial waste will be handed over. The Police, he said, shall impound any waste collection vehicle not registered and the owners will be prosecuted under the Anti-Littering Regulations.

The NEA therefore solicits the full cooperation of the general public to maintain a clean and healthy environment for the benefit of all the inhabitants of our beloved nation.