南非艺术家为反垃圾战做贡献

He is an accomplished painter and a graphics designer. He likes screen painting on t-shirts and ceramics, as well as video shooting and editing.

But for now, he is content working with the needy children of Douala and wants to continue clearing the streets from solid, non-biodegradable wastes.

Douala’s estimated three million inhabitants generate over 1600 tons of household refuse daily. The city council says because of financial constraints, a quarter of that amount remains uncollected. That means 400 tons of garbage is piled on the streets of Douala on a daily basis.

Clean air in Douala, the country’s industrial hub, is also rare as hundreds of factories belch foul smells and discharge solid wastes.

Critics blame the situation on the weak enforcement of regulations, a lack of funding, chaotic urbanization and reckless behavior.

But hope still abounds. Alongside government efforts to control rubbish is an emerging breed of artists -- gathering trash and turning it into exquisite works of art.