The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) says it is on top of the mounting garbage situation following the Christmas holidays.
Public relations officer Carl Padmore told the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday that the pile-ups were a normal occurrence following the back-to-back public holidays.
Yesterday, mounds of garbage were seen along River Road, the corner of Beckwith Street and Nelson Street, all in The City.
“Naturally after Christmas, with parties in general, you would always have an increase. Christmas is that time of year. The SSA is very much in control of the situation and will be responding accordingly,” he said, adding they would have crews out today to address the garbage.
In yesterday’s DAILY NATION, residents in the St Peter communities of Diamond Corner and Maynards had complained of growing piles of garbage on Christmas Day. However, they did not point fingers at the SSA, but at their neighbours for putting out the garbage after the trucks had passed.
Earlier this month, Minister of the Environment Dr Denis Lowe said the SSA was aware of the challenges with collection and had been hampered by “the state of equipment”. However, he appealed to residents not to put out garbage immediately after the trucks had gone.
“That is important since most areas get one collection per week with the exception of some commercial areas and densely populated communities,” he said.
Lowe also reminded the public of the bulk waste service offered by the SSA.
“We started in the north of the island and now we are moving to the south. It is our intention to cover the entire island to remove large bulky items from the curbside,” he said.
The SSA ramped up its collection in anticipation of the Christmas season. Last week Monday and Tuesday, mass collection of household waste was done in St Joseph, St John, St Philip and Christ Church, with St Lucy’s turn the Wednesday.
Padmore lauded the efforts of the supervisors on duty, whom he said went beyond the call of duty. He deemed the exercise a success.
Adding that there would always be pockets of garbage as people brought their refuse after the trucks passed, Padmore said the SSA would respond in earnest. (AD)