The district council’s spokesperson, Mathews Mkandawire has told Zodiak Online Monday, the council relies on hired tractors to collect waste from the dumping sites which is costly.

Mkandawire said the council's environment department receives K430, 000.00 monthly as its other recurrent transactions (ORT) funding which is inadequate.

He added that part of the funding is used for other activities while a small budget is allocated to clearing of waste from the dumping sites.

"Lack of designated vehicle to collect waste is affecting management of waste as the council fails to hire tractors consistently to collect waste," said Mkandawire.

One of the country's environmental rights activists, Maloto Chinkombero has urged government through ministry of local government to consider buying vehicles for the district councils to avert such challenges.

Chinkombero said failure to collect waste can affect both people's lives and the environment hence the need to move with speed.

Meanwhile, huge pile of waste and bad smell is wreaking havoc among people that reside around Phalombe market dumping site.