Environmental Service providers threaten to halt sanitation operations over unpaid arrears
The Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has appealed to government to immediately pay all outstanding arrears owed to waste management contractors by November 7, 2025, warning that failure to do so could trigger a nationwide shutdown of sanitation services.
In a press briefing, the Association cautioned that non-payment may force its members to suspend operations across the country, potentially causing a national sanitation and health crisis, with outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria.
According to ESPA, the delays in settling arrears have left many waste management companies struggling to operate, making it difficult to pay workers, maintain equipment, and sustain daily waste collection activities.
The Association also called on the Ministry of Finance to urgently release all pending payments to prevent a breakdown in sanitation services.
ESPA further urged government to review the current policy on the national sanitation and pollution levy, recommending that it be restructured into a dedicated fund to support and sustain waste management operations nationwide.
The group noted that for years the sector has operated without a clear and consistent budgetary allocation, placing its financial sustainability at risk.
ESPA warned that if these issues are not addressed immediately, service disruptions could occur, endangering public health and the environment.
