Impact of implementing pre-collection of waste in the urban community of Yaounde 3 / Cameroon: Importance of the circular economy

Context: The municipality of Yaounde faces serious waste management  issues, affecting approximately 500,000 inhabitants spread across some  100,000 households. Challenges include irregular collection, lack of  adequate infrastructure, and the presence of illegal dumps polluting the  environment. Methods: The project, conducted by "EcoClean  Environnement" from 2016 to 2020, aimed to evaluate the health,  environmental, and economic impact of waste pre-collection in the  Urban Community of Yaoundé III and to demonstrate the importance of  the circular economy for sustainable resource management. It involved  all households in the district, local businesses, and trained agents for  pre-collection. Awareness campaigns and collection points were  established, along with sorting and recycling centers to valorize waste. Results: The project demonstrated a significant reduction (44.44%, p <  0.01) in uncollected waste and a 60% improvement (p < 0.01) in the  cleanliness of green spaces and waterways. It also notably reduced (p <  0.05) diseases associated with poor waste management and the  proliferation of disease vectors. The project created 200 jobs (p < 0.01)  and stimulated the development of 10 new local businesses specializing  in waste management. Conclusion: The project transformed waste  management in Yaoundé III, improving the quality of life, reducing 
environmental impacts, and stimulating local economic development,  supported by robust statistical results.