By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Freetown City Council (FCC) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sierra Leone Police to strengthen the enforcement of the DortiMusGo Initiative and ensure full compliance with the Solid and Liquid Waste Collection Byelaws 2024.
According to a public notice issued on 4 June 2026 by the FCC, the partnership is aimed at promoting effective waste management across the capital city by compelling residents, businesses and institutions to comply with the new regulations governing waste collection and disposal.
The Council stated that all households, businesses and institutions are required to register with FCC-approved waste collection service providers operating within their respective wards or blocks. It emphasized that only approved service providers have the legal authority to collect waste within the city.
Under the new framework, payments for waste collection services must be made in advance through approved channels, including the Smart City Services App, the USSD code 715123#, Orange Money, Afrimoney and other licensed mobile money agents. Authorities warned that payments made to unapproved waste collectors are considered illegal.
The byelaws also require residents to use standardized FCC-approved bins and waste bags and to dispose of refuse according to established collection schedules. The notice strictly prohibits the dumping or burning of waste in drains, streets, waterways and open spaces, adding that all waste must be transported to approved dumpsites at Kingtom and Kissy.
The FCC further announced that septic tanks and other forms of liquid waste must only be handled by registered liquid waste service providers and transported to approved treatment facilities. Street trading activities that obstruct waste collection routes have also been prohibited.
As part of the DortiMusGo campaign, residents are being encouraged to report missed waste collections, illegal dumping, blocked drains and the activities of unauthorized waste collectors through the FCC’s toll-free hotline 8244 or via the Smart City Services App.
The Council disclosed that standardized and capped pricing has been introduced to make the service affordable and transparent. Under the approved rates, a 25-kilogram waste bag will cost NLe 15, a 50-kilogram bag or 50-litre bin will cost NLe 25, while a 120-litre bin has been fixed at NLe 50. Larger bins, including 1,000-litre containers, may cost up to NLe 500, with special arrangements available for industrial, medical and construction waste.
Authorities warned that failure to comply with the Waste Management Byelaws 2024 could attract severe penalties, including fines of up to NLe 5,000, imprisonment for up to six months or both.
The FCC noted that a Joint Enforcement Team made up of the FCC Metropolitan Police, the Sierra Leone Police and the Judiciary has already been established to ensure compliance across all wards in Freetown.
The Council described the DortiMusGo Initiative as an innovative citywide campaign designed to promote environmental sanitation, improve public health and build a cleaner and more resilient Freetown.
