THE National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has started a national clean-up campaign in 105 town centres across the island.

All four regions: Metropolitan Parks and Markets, Southern Parks and Markets, North Eastern Parks and Markets, and Western Parks and Markets, have been activated, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said yesterday.

According to the head of the NSWMA, Audley Gordon, the clean-up campaign is being undertaken to improve the aesthetics of town centres in time for Christmas.

“We are cleaning up Jamaica for Christmas. Jamaicans deserve to be able to enjoy a clean environment for the Christmas season and beyond. This is part of our contribution not only to boost economic activity in our town centres, but also to build greater awareness of environmental cleanliness and its benefits,” said Gordon.

During the campaign, 105 town centres will be cleaned with more than 2,000 truckloads of refuse to be removed.

Gordon added that while the NSWMA is starting this clean-up campaign, it needs the support of business owners.

“While we are doing this general clean-up of town centres, we appeal to all business owners to make proper arrangements for the collection of commercial garbage. This clean-up is not about commercial garbage collection but cleaning general public spaces,” stated Gordon.

He added: “We are also asking citizens to play their part and use this clean-up campaign as a platform for greater cleanliness in 2019 as we will be boosting our enforcement activities in the new year.”