Introduction

In several communes of the Congolese capital, young people without stable employment offer households the service of removing their household waste for a modest fee. However, they often dump it into streets, gutters, or vacant lots, worsening the already concerning unsanitary conditions in the city.

A Daily Practice and a Public Health Threat

The public waste collection system remains insufficient, and sometimes non-existent in Kinshasa. In some neighbourhoods, many households turn to the Matiti to dispose of their trash. Using handcarts, these makeshift waste collectors go from house to house, collecting garbage for a few Congolese francs. Residents of the capital have no other choice but to give their waste to these collectors, yet the collected garbage often ends up back in the streets. This practice contributes to the proliferation of waste piles along avenues, blocking drains, causing flooding during rains, and generating foul odours in parts of the city. It also poses a health risk, as it promotes the multiplication of mosquitoes and other disease vectors, such as cholera or typhoid.

Between Survival and Antisocial Behaviour

For these young people, commonly called Matiti, waste collecting is a means of survival in a city with high youth unemployment. However, the consequences of this resourcefulness are heavy for the environment and public health. Authorities must increase awareness campaigns and sanitation operations, yet the phenomenon seems to be intensifying with the city’s population growth. There needs to be a way where waste can be responsibly thrown away. 

Conclusion

Only a clear and inclusive waste management policy, involving authorities, specialized companies, and the population, can break the cycle of the Matiti. Formalizing this activity, with proper training and supervision, could transform these informal collectors into genuine sanitation agents. Meanwhile, the Matiti continue to roam the streets of Kinshasa, a symbol both of Congolese resourcefulness and of the environmental challenge the capital must face.