In Abidjan, the urban landscape has just undergone a major ecological revolution. The former Akouédo landfill, once the epicenter of Ivorian pollution, has been transformed into a modern urban park. This 90-hectare site, which held more than 50 million tons of waste over several decades, has definitively turned a dark page in its history.

An ecological and social renaissance

Closed in 2018, the site underwent extensive rehabilitation to become a healthy living space. This monumental project did more than simply cover up the waste; it transformed a derelict area into a multifunctional complex including:

1. Sports and Leisure: Sports fields and children's playgrounds.
2. Biodiversity: A botanical walk to rediscover the local flora.
3. Relaxation: Developed trails and rest areas for families.

The relief of local residents: "A true deliverance"

For those who lived in the shadow of the landfill, the change is radical. The nuisances that poisoned daily life — pestilential smells, toxic fumes and insect infestations — are now nothing but a bad memory.

"We preferred to flee the neighborhood during the day and only come back to sleep," says N'Goran Kouadio, a local mechanic.

The same is true for Serge Kupé, a driver whose business had collapsed due to pollution: "I had to close my business because nobody wanted to come. Today, life is returning to normal." Beyond comfort, a real public health issue has been addressed by the local population.

Towards sustainable waste management in Abidjan

The closure of the Akouédo landfill also marks the modernization of household waste management in Côte d'Ivoire. The Kossihouen Waste Recovery and Technical Landfill Center (CVET) has taken over. Located on the outskirts of the city, this center uses modern technologies to treat waste sustainably, thus avoiding repeating past mistakes.

In short: Key figures for the project

Characteristic	Details
Area	Nearly 90 hectares
Volume of waste processed	+50 million tonnes
Closing date	End of 2018
New function	Urban park and biodiversity area

This new "green lung" is part of the Ivorian government's strategy to make Abidjan a sustainable metropolis, where environmental protection becomes a driver of social well-being.