(Business in Cameroon) – The Yaoundé Urban Community (CUY), responsible for city management, has launched an urgent international tender yesterday seeking four service providers to handle household waste collection in the capital. The contract is divided into four lots covering different districts: Yaoundé 1st and Yaoundé 5 (lot 1), Yaoundé 2 and Yaoundé 7 (lot 2), Yaoundé 3 and Yaoundé 6 (lot 3), and Yaoundé 4 (lot 4). The estimated total cost for the operation is CFA61.8 billion, funded by the CUY budget for 2024 and subsequent years.
The services include collecting household waste from bins and containers, cleaning and sweeping main streets, public squares, and markets, as well as transporting waste to final disposal sites or transfer centers. The contracts are set for a five-year duration, with a firm one-year phase and four conditional one-year extensions. Bidders must submit their offers by July 23 and remain committed to their proposals for 120 days after the deadline.
This tender comes amid a crisis of household waste management in Yaoundé. Despite the recruitment of a new operator to support the activities of Hygiène et Assainissement du Cameroun (Hysacam), the capital continues to suffer from chronic cleanliness problems. Streets cluttered with garbage pose significant environmental and public health risks. Hysacam, which previously held a monopoly, now shares the market with Thychlof Sarl. However, both companies’ contracts expired on December 31, 2023, necessitating competitive bidding to retain their positions.
Reducing Operational Costs
Yaoundé Mayor Luc Messi Atangana attributes these challenges to several factors, including insufficient collection operators, residents’ lack of civic responsibility, and a growing population. To address these issues, the municipality has opted to diversify service providers through competitive bidding. By attracting national and international firms, city officials aim to establish a more efficient and sustainable waste management system. Transparency in the procurement process is a priority for CUY, with stringent measures in place to prevent corruption and ensure rigorous public procurement management.
Initially considering one operator per district, CUY has opted to distribute responsibilities across the city’s seven districts to lower operational costs. With only two current providers, Yaoundé’s city administration acknowledges the limitations of the existing system. Additionally, existing operators like Hysacam struggle with inadequate financial resources, contributing to the city’s sanitation challenges.
