THE St Thomas Health Department has launched a three-year solid waste management project aimed at significantly reducing littering and the number of illicit dump sites in that parish.

According to Dr D’Oyen Smith, the parish’s medical officer of health, improper management of solid waste in St Thomas has resulted in a proliferation of illicit disposal of solid waste which has serious public health and environmental implications.

“Solid waste management in this parish has become a cause for concern in light of the threat of deadly diseases like leptospirosis and dengue fever, which the illicit disposal encourages,” he said. “Consequently, the Public Health Department saw it fit to implement this project, which is aimed at fostering a paradigm shift within the populace when it comes to properly disposing of solid waste.”

The project is spearheaded by a team of public health inspectors and health educators from the St Thomas Health Department and will be implemented in collaboration with the National Solid Waste Management Agency, the St Thomas Parish Council and other important stakeholders.

The objectives of the project are to expand refuse collection systems in the parish; to upgrade the present disposal site as a short-term measure; and to identify land for the relocation of site and construction of a sanitary landfill.

“One of our main goals is to get rid of illicit dump sites through the procurement of refuse receptacles and hosting clean-up campaigns,” Smith added. “We also want to create awareness of the solid waste problem and its implication while soliciting the involvement of the wider community. This will be done through health education campaigns — mass meetings, lectures, clean school and poster competitions, bumper stickers, flyers and so on.”