NSWMA to step up enforcement drive

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Joan Gordon Webley, is warning that the agency will be stepping up its enforcement drive, if persons and business operators refuse to properly store their garbage.

Addressing the monthly meeting of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on March 3, at the Golf View Hotel, in Mandeville, she pointed out that  the NSWMA’s main challenge in garbage collection is that entities deposit their wastes on the ground or give it to handcart men to throw away.

“The NSWMA  is serving notice on all schools, all business places, all markets, that when we come to collect, if you do not have a skip, or a drum, or your bags are not properly tied, we will leave the solid waste and we will serve you a ticket. And, we will serve you several tickets of 50,000 each, and up to the maximum of  $1 million,”  Mrs. Gordon Webley said.

“Many private businesses tend to give their garbage to a handcart man to dispose of it. This is against the law; the law clearly states that private persons, business persons and commercial enterprises must containerise their solid waste before disposing of it. You can be equally prosecuted if you send your solid waste to someone who is not licensed to collect. Before you hand your solid waste to a commercial collector, you must first ask him to show some documentation, or certificate that he is a licensed collector,” she explained.

The Executive Director said that the re-focused NSWMA  made  $240 million from commercialisation last year. In partnership with HEART/NTA, it has also trained persons to do landscaping, it has established a honey making enterprise in Westmoreland, procured uniforms for its casual workers from earned funds, and is now ensuring that National Housing Trust (NHT) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits accrue to  sweepers, landfill and other casual workers.

“They can now be proud that they can put points together and get housing benefits. When they  are  sick, or someone in their family dies, they can benefit from the NIS,” she said.

Mrs. Gordon Webley  pointed out that in another six weeks the agency will be entering the commercial market with  compost that can be used for gardens, lawns and parks.

She is urging  Parish Councils islandwide to be more timely and consistent with funds to the agency for the collection of domestic waste in the various parishes.

CONTACT: GARFIELD L. ANGUS

                   JIS REGIONAL OFFICE

                   MANDEVILLE