Solid waste management has been identified as one of the major environmental concerns of the city of Douala. Inadequate collection and disposal of solid waste is affecting and changing the environment adversely in many ways. Plastic waste for example is carelessly buried into the soil which modifies soil texture by making it less porous, but more frequently burnt in the open air resulting in the release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Pollution of surface and underground sources of drinking water through leaching from abandoned or poorly disposed waste is very common. Uncollected solid waste also attracts insects and rodents—vectors of certain gastrointestinal and parasitic diseases or ends up being washed into the gutters, blocking them and provoking floods. The Cameroon environmental law 96/12 (5 August 1996) regulates the handling of waste and includes requirements for hazardous waste, recycling, treatment and disposal methods. It also has provisions to encourage the reuse of materials through recycling and for training and public awareness.