By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 10th June, 2026- Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has confirmed that the Freetown City Council’s (FCC) Solid and Liquid Waste Collection Byelaws 2024 are now fully in force and effect, ushering in a new phase of sanitation enforcement across the capital through a strategic partnership with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The announcement was made through a public notice jointly issued by the FCC and the SLP following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of the city’s waste management regulations.
The enforcement effort forms part of the ongoing #DortiMusGo Campaign, an initiative designed to improve sanitation standards, promote responsible waste disposal practices, and ensure compliance among households, businesses, and institutions throughout Freetown.
According to the notice, all residents, businesses, and institutions are required to register with FCC-approved waste collection service providers assigned to their respective blocks. Only authorized service providers have the legal mandate to collect waste within the city’s eight designated waste management zones covering all 48 wards.
Residents are also required to make monthly payments for waste collection services through FCC-approved channels, including the Smart City Services Mobile App, the Smart City web platform, and designated USSD payment systems. Authorities warned that payments made to unauthorized waste collectors or through unofficial channels will be considered illegal.
The FCC further encouraged residents to use standardized waste bins and bags approved by the Council and available through authorized service providers and designated suppliers. Officials noted that the use of approved waste collection systems will help ensure that waste is properly transported and disposed of at designated dumpsites in Kingtom and Kissy.
The new byelaws strictly prohibit the dumping or burning of waste in drains, streets, waterways, and open spaces. They also prohibit street trading activities that obstruct waste collection routes, a practice authorities say contributes significantly to sanitation challenges within the city.
To ensure compliance, a Joint Enforcement Team comprising the FCC Metropolitan Police, the Sierra Leone Police, and representatives of the Judiciary will begin active enforcement operations across all blocks in the coming weeks.
Authorities have warned that violators of the new regulations could face severe penalties, including fines of up to NLe 5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both, depending on the nature and severity of the offence.
The public notice also calls on residents to actively support the initiative by reporting missed waste collections, illegal dumping activities, blocked drainage systems, and unauthorized waste collectors. Reports can be made through the FCC toll-free hotline 8244, the Smart City App, or the Dorti Box App.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that the success of the initiative depends on collective responsibility and community participation, noting that cleaner neighborhoods contribute directly to improved public health, environmental protection, and a more resilient Freetown.
The notice concludes with a clear message to residents: ”#DortiMusGo: Register. Pay. Respect the Rules.”
The intensified enforcement campaign is expected to significantly strengthen waste management systems across the city and reinforce the Council’s efforts to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Freetown.
