Persons Encouraged to Practice Proper Solid Waste Disposal
By: , November 23, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Donald Delahaye
Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (second left), listens intently while National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) Chief Executive Officer, Peter Knight (right), delivers his report during a recent Heads of Agencies and Departments meeting at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices. Also listening, from left, are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwyn Hales; and Director General, Dr. Sharon Crooks (partly hidden).The Facts
- He was speaking with JIS News following a recent meeting of Heads of Agencies and Departments at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices, where the matter was discussed.
- Mr. Pickersgill argued that proper disposal of all forms of solid waste will, unquestionably, result in a cleaner environment, reduction in unnecessary expenditure on cleanup activities...
The Full Story
Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, is again encouraging persons to undertake proper disposal of domestic and commercial waste, and refrain from depositing these materials in drains, gullies, and waterways.
This, he says, in order to prevent the occurrence of flooding and pollution, among other consequences, which can result from improper disposal of debris, and which have repeatedly proven costly for Jamaica.
He was speaking with JIS News following a recent meeting of Heads of Agencies and Departments at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices, where the matter was discussed.
Mr. Pickersgill said the ongoing wanton disposal of garbage into drains, gullies, and waterways, continues to adversely affect the environment in numerous ways.
These, he noted, include: blocking of the drainage networks; littering of beaches and coastlines; and pollution of the sea, which poses threats to marine life and the overall ecological balance.
“It also has a serious impact on the income of fisher folk, as the death of near-shore marine life causes them to go further out to sea, thus spending more (money) and putting themselves at greater risk,” he added.
Mr. Pickersgill argued that proper disposal of all forms of solid waste will, unquestionably, result in a cleaner environment, reduction in unnecessary expenditure on cleanup activities, and lessening of the “deleterious impact” on beaches and coastlines.
“So I urge residents to do the right and lawful thing and allow the relevant authorities to collect their solid waste rather than dumping it in waterways, gullies and rivers,” he implored.