Haiti launches nationwide trash cleanup in Cap-Haitien, residents demand more | PHOTOS

CAP-HAÏTIEN — After years of complaints about trash overrunning the country’s second largest city, the Haitian government launched Konbit Ayiti Zewo Dechè, or “Zero Trash Collective” in Cap-Haïtien April 25. However, residents say, the inaugural tidying of a beachfront area is not enough, especially since recent rains exacerbated waste-related blockages that have disrupted daily life. 

“The konbit could work but if they don’t put trash bins the streets will always be dirty,” Peterson Forges, 30, said. “We need to throw away plastics in different bins and need garbage trucks to come pick them up. We can make so much from plastic bottles like chairs, sandals, brushes.”

“They don’t really have a clear plan to change things,” Forges added about Konbit Ayiti Zewo Dechè.

About 50 workers and government officials had kicked off the nationwide cleanup at The Litoral, a stretch of beach near the Cap-Haïtien International Airport. Minister of Environment Valéry Fils-Aimé said the cleanup initiative has four pillars: strengthening and preserving waste, community restoration, natural resources management and strengthening environment governance. He did not provide a detailed plan nor funding information about the project.

Yet, in the days that followed, residents frustrated with growing piles of waste across the city began taking to the streets in protest. While blocking two main roads, they demanded repairs to the deteriorating road, the unclogging of an irrigation canal blamed for repeated flooding and for officials to address the root causes of the problem. Namely, a lack of infrastructure, high unemployment and few public services.

Below are some images from Konbit Ayiti Zewo Dechè’s kick-off and subsequent demonstrations.

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Nationwide cleanup launched

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