THE National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is now planning to take its anti-litter ticketing system islandwide, as it continues its effort to help keep the nation’s streets clean.

“We’re doing it (the system) in phases. We started in Manchester yesterday (Tuesday), and on Monday we will be in St Thomas and on July 16 we’ll be in St Ann,” said Andre Wiltshire, the NSWMA’s director of enforcement and compliance.

Wiltshire said the system, which was piloted in the capital Kingston, Montego Bay in St James and Portmore, St Catherine, has been successful, despite criticism from some members of the public that the presence of police officers involved in the programme was not being felt.

“It just may be that while you are in Half-Way-Tree they are in Papine. We have issued 276 tickets and 64 of them have been paid to date,” Wiltshire told the Observer yesterday.

The new anti-litter system was introduced on May 1 under the National Solid Waste Management Act of 2001.

The littering or disposing of garbage in any public space attracts a $2,000 fine, while the wilful breaking of any bottle or article made of glass in or on any public place without having lawful authority attracts a fine of $5,000. In addition, the littering or disposing of garbage in or on any premises owned or occupied by another person without the consent of that person attracts a $5,000 fine.

The NSWMA has been working with the police, public health officers and inspectors and traffic wardens in enforcing the anti-litter ticketing programme.