KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has expressed concern about media reports regarding the sale of unfit meat/goods purported to be obtained from the Riverton Disposal Site and, as such, has outlined its protocol for handling certain items and contrabands for disposal at the island’s dumps.

NSWMA today issued a statement outlining that once it is contacted with regards to expired/rejected meat/goods, a meeting is convened with the owners of the products earmarked for disposal; representatives of the Ministry of Health/ Public Health Department and the Jamaica Constabulary Force or private security.

“At this meeting, the issue of transportation; security; disposal/burial and associated costs are discussed as well as the pre-preparation process of denature etc,” NWSMA explained, noting that the requisite hole for disposal/burial is then dug not less than 20 feet deep.

This process, the NSWMA said, is supervised by a representative from the Ministry of Health, the owners of the product, the police/security and its senior representatives.

“On completion of the dumping, the space between disposed item and surface is approximately five feet and the product is then covered with demolished concrete and sand.

“The regional entities, have done numerous disposal of this nature over the years and can say that none of these disposed/buried products have re-entered the market,” NSWMA said.

The authority said as the responsible agency for solid waste management in Jamaica, it continues to review its protocol to ensure that there is no breach and that all efforts are in keeping with established standards.