UK Waste Experts Support Groundbreaking Waste Management Drive in The Gambia

“Operation Sanity is about more than waste – it’s about dignity, health and opportunity”

A team of waste management experts from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) have travelled to The Gambia with international development charity WasteAid to support Operation Sanity – a collaborative waste management and circular economy initiative with Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC).

The Operation Sanity initiative is designed to stop littering and the improper disposal of harmful waste, improving public sanitation by educating residents about the importance of clean environments and encouraging them to abide by local bylaws.

The technical support visit is designed to include site assessments, workshops with frontline waste management teams, and strategic planning sessions with the Dennakuwo Circular Economy Network. The visit aims to strengthen local capacity, share practical expertise, and co-develop solutions to some of the region’s most pressing sanitation challenges.

Ceris Turner-Bailes, Chief Executive of WasteAid, said: “This visit marks a significant milestone in our ongoing partnership with CIWM. Operation Sanity is about more than waste – it’s about dignity, health and opportunity. By bringing together technical expertise and local knowledge, we are building a cleaner, safer future for the people of the Greater Banjul Area.”

CIWM’s Chief Executive, Sarah Poulter, added: “At CIWM, we believe in sharing knowledge to create a world beyond waste. Our members are proud to stand alongside WasteAid and KMC, supporting community-led efforts to strengthen sustainable waste systems in The Gambia. This visit demonstrates the power of international collaboration in turning ambition into action.”

Follow WasteAid’s social media channels for updates from the ground throughout the week during this exciting collaborative climate-positive visit.

In 2024 alone, WasteAid’s programmes reached nearly 1.3 million people, diverted over 300,000 kilograms of waste from the environment and delivered more than 7,800 hours of training. WasteAid’s work positively engages communities to improve public health through better waste management.

WasteAid and CIWM aim to scale these successes and contribute to a replicable model for circular economy development in low-resource settings.