Save the Children’s drone-based waste management system, Shift, has revealed shortcomings in how waste is handled in several major markets in Lilongwe.
The organisation deployed the Shift Initiative, utilising drones to survey the city’s waste management situation. The survey revealed that many markets are overwhelmed with waste due to a growing population and the city council’s limited capacity to address the issue.
During the dissemination of the survey results in Lilongwe, Save the Children’s Innovations Manager, Bright Chidzumeni, described the situation as alarming, emphasising the health risks of poor waste management. He commended the council for its swift response to the problem.
Lilongwe City Council’s Director of Health responsible for Waste Management, Thokozani Mkaka, concurred with the findings, noting that the council is struggling due to rapid population growth and irresponsible waste disposal practices.
Mkaka stressed that the use of drone technology for aerial inspections is crucial for enhancing and accelerating waste management efforts. He called for collective action to address the challenge.
