THE SANITATION SERVICE IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO

It was around the middle of the last century that those responsible for public authorities in Europe began to take an interest in the search for modern solutions to the problems of hygiene and urban cleanliness. It was necessary to find new ideas for the elimination of household waste and the elimination of unsanitary land and landfills located on the outskirts of the urban areas which were growing in this new industrial era.

In France, in Paris, the Prefect Eugène POUBELLE left his name to the containers intended to collect and store household waste.

In England, around 1840 , the first incinerator ovens were installed and put into operation.

At this time, under the reign of HSH Prince Charles III, Monaco would experience the beginning of its contemporary period with the creation in 1866 of the new district of Monte-Carlo. The construction of the Casino, the Salle Garnier (Opéra de Monte-Carlo), and the large hotels would develop the Quartier des Spélugues. In a few years Monte-Carlo acquired a reputation and dazzling urban development. This did not fail to pose the same problems to Monegasque city councilors in terms of the organization of public services. The first sweepers were hired in January 1873.

On August 24, 1882 , by a first agreement, the Government of the Principality charged the Société Générale des Engrais de Nice with providing, from January 1, 1883, the services of public sweeping and emptying.

Subsequently, the Société des Bains de Mer, operator of the Casino and its hotel establishments, was responsible for the organization of certain public services including sanitation. This service's mission was to clean and sweep streets, roads, avenues and boulevards as well as the collection and disposal of household waste.

In 1898 , under the reign of HSH Prince Albert I, the first household waste incineration plant was built (photo opposite). This installation included 2 ovens, with a normal capacity of 40 tonnes per day, which were built by the Horsfall firm. This plant was already equipped with an energy recovery system to produce the steam necessary for heating the combustion air. During the inauguration of the factory, on March 21, 1898, the service, under the name of Service d'Assainissement et des Routes, received its basic organizational structure placed under the responsibility of Mr. TSCHIRRET Jacques Louis Philippe, Head of Service.

When he died, his son Charles succeeded him in July 1900. When the latter died in March 1908, the sanitation service was separated from the roads service. It was his brother Henri TSCHIRRET who became the Head of Department on May 17, 1908 until October 1, 1936.

On this date the State, as part of an operation to sell public services operated by the SBM, took directly in charge of the management of the sanitation service of the Principality placed under the direction of Mr. Victor BONAFEDE until 1960. On October 1, 1938, the SMA created for this purpose, received the service concession for thirty years. Since October 1, 1968, it has continued to manage it on behalf of the State.