KSAMC Proposes Decentralisation of Waste Management Programme

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has proposed that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) focus exclusively on regulating Jamaica’s waste management programme.

Under the proposal, responsibility for daily waste management activities would be decentralised and assigned to local authorities, in keeping with provisions of the NSWMA Act, 2001, according to Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby.

He was speaking during KSAMC’s monthly meeting at the Corporation’s office in downtown Kingston on Tuesday (January 13).

Councillor Swaby noted that the legislation, “clearly envisaged the Authority primarily as a regulator, not as the main operator”.

“The Act assigned the NSWMA responsibility for formulating standards, guidelines and codes of practice for solid waste management, as well as monitoring and enforcing compliance. This is a regulatory function focused on oversight, accountability and enforcement, not routine service delivery,” he said.

Councillor Swaby pointed out that the agency is currently tasked with both regulating the waste management system and carrying out daily garbage collection.

He contended that the entity should return to its “proper role as regulator”, while responsibility for day‑to‑day collection is decentralised and placed under the local authorities.

“The local authority will then be empowered to contract private operators to deliver the service. The NSWMA would focus on ensuring standards are met, regulations are enforced and that the system operates efficiently,” the Mayor added.

Councillor Swaby further stated that the Act already provides the flexibility to make this shift, as it empowers the Authority to delegate certain functions to local authorities and agents.

He proposed a phased implementation, beginning with a pilot project to be conducted in Kingston and St. Andrew.

“Such a pilot would allow the Government to test the model, refine contract arrangements and address operational challenges before considering national expansion.

What is being proposed is not the removal of public oversight but the strengthening of the regulator, the operators and local authorities empowered to act,” Councillor Swaby stated.