20,000 Truckloads of Debris Removed from Several Parishes

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says it has maintained a sustained and coordinated national response in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, resulting in the removal of nearly 20,000 truckloads of debris across several parishes.

Executive Director, Audley Gordon, told JIS News in an interview that the clean-up effort remains ongoing.

“At our last count, we were close to 20,000 trips of debris removed already since Melissa,” Mr. Gordon said.

He outlined that focused operations in St. James have yielded significant results, particularly in two Montego Bay communities that were heavily impacted.

“We did over 2,000 trips from two communities alone in St. James… Catherine Hall and West Green,” he said.

Mr. Gordon explained that the scale and persistence of the clean-up reflect deliberate action by the agency, noting that debris management falls squarely within the NSWMA’s mandate following major weather events.

“These are deliberate actions that we are taking and will continue to take, because… solid waste removal and debris management come under our remit,” he said.

He acknowledged that the immediate aftermath of the hurricane placed considerable strain on the organisation’s workforce, as many employees were themselves directly affected by the storm.

“We had 300-plus of our staff members suffered badly,” Mr. Gordon said, noting that staff morale has since improved significantly.

He added that while debris removal is being intensified across affected areas, the agency continues to manage routine domestic waste collection, creating operational pressure in some communities.

“It has put some pressure on our domestic collection… so we will have delays in some areas,” he said.

Against this background, Mr. Gordon appealed to residents for patience and cooperation, particularly in relation to proper garbage disposal practices.

“When you properly containerise your garbage, it makes it easier for us to move it,” Mr. Gordon said.

Despite the challenges, he said the agency remains focused on completing the task and will continue to press ahead with clean-up operations.

“We are not daunted at all. We know that it will take time… and we just have to keep at it,” Mr. Gordon continued.