TWENTY-nine-year-old Monique Christie from Flanker in St James is on a mission: she’s determined to change the attitudes of those in her community who do not dispose of their solid waste properly.

“When I go back to Flankers, first I will have to divide the community into different segments for more effective coverage. It is very big. We will also use an interview process for assessment and to look at weaknesses in the management process for each area,” she said during a recent environmental warden training seminar in Kingston.

The young woman, who works as a customer service agent in the Montego Bay free zone, said she intended to carry out her duties in the afternoons and on weekends.

Christie was one of 32 million residents from 12 different communities who spent several days learning about the impact of waste on the environment and how to dispose of various kinds of hazardous material. The seminar formed part of the Inner City Basic Services for the Poor (ICBSP) which is financed by the World Bank at a cost of $6 million, and implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund JSIF, with collaboration from the National Solid Waste Authority (NWSMA).

Another trainee warden,

23-year-old Andre Barnett, was itching to take what he had learnt back to his Jones Town community.

“It was really exciting to learn about the environment and that it makes us healthy. Cleaner surroundings in terms of our own health are better for us. The air that we breathe is important,” said Barnett, who is a student of entertainment management and television.

“The most interesting thing I have learnt is the impact of the environment on our health. I also did not know about the roles of (the National Environment and Planning Agency),” he added.

Social Development Manager at JSIF Mona Sue-Ho had good words for the project and expressed confidence in its impact on the targeted communities.

“These wardens will be equipped to monitor and ensure compliance to solid waste regulations,” she said.

“Their presence in communities will aid in public awareness and education and the promotion of proper waste management techniques, including recycling,” she added.

The aim of the project is to improve the aesthetics the communities and to change residents’ behaviour where garbage disposal and collection are concerned.

According to JSIF, non-compliance and non-enforcement of solid waste management operations within the 12 ICBSP communities is currently affecting the health and wellbeing of all age groups — children, the disabled and the elderly, and service providers inside the targeted areas.

“The pile-up of garbage provides a haven for rats and other pests which poses a serious health risk for members in the communities. Inaccessible lanes make it difficult for trucks to have easy access to garbage collection sites; as such, the recommendation is that community residents should take their solid waste to the various communal receptacles (skips). The burning of solid waste due to non- or infrequent collection poses a health risk especially for those who suffer from respiratory illnesses,” Sue-Ho added.

The wardens have been certified and empowered by law to enforce regulations under the NSWMA Act.

Other communities which the project targeted were Federal Gardens, Jones Town, Africa/March Pen, Whitfield Town, Pasmore Town, Shelter Rock, Central Village, Knollis, Lauriston, Tawes Meadows, Flanker and Bucknor.