KINGSTON, Jamaica — Head of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Audley Gordon today denied claims that contractors were disposing garbage near the residential section of Riverton City, St Andrew, where the landfill is located.

“At no time did we dispose of any garbage among the residents of Riverton City,” the executive told the media at a press briefing at the NSWMA disposal site in the community this afternoon.

Gordon insisted that the Authorities would not infringe on the “human dignity” of the residents in such a way.

Residents recently raised concerns about the disposal and build-up of garbage outside the site at Riverton, speculating that the dump was full.

However, Gordon explained that “recent rains softened the ground at the dump and the [garbage] trucks were getting stuck in the mud.”

He added that as a result, trucks had difficulty accessing the tipping cell, where garbage is normally dumped.

Gordon said a temporary site located on the front of the dump was being used to store garbage in order to combat the problem.

He also sought to dispel rumours that heavy duty equipment workers were on strike.

Deandra Morrison