CABINET has approved a contract, valued at ¤1,977,500, for the purchase of 17 Renault garbage compactor trucks for the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

Senator Sandrea Falconer, the minister in charge of information, made the announcement yesterday at a Jamaica House media briefing, held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston.

The NSWMA’s islandwide fleet for the collection and disposal of domestic and commercial waste consists of 52 units.

“To operate at optimal efficiency, the authority needs a fleet of approximately 172 trucks. Since 2013, supplementary contractors have been engaged and the NSWMA has overall access to some 126 trucks,” said Senator Falconer.

The minister said, however, that despite the access to 126 trucks there was still a severe backlog in collection of waste due to the turn-out of less than 50 per cent of the trucks required from contractors.

“There is an urgent need to replenish the NSWMA fleet. Renault garbage compactors have proven more reliable than others, as spare parts for these vehicles are easily accessible locally. The trucks will be delivered within the next six months,” Falconer said.