Whenever we may choose to check any gully course or drain we are likely to find hard evidence of the waste pollution that have dogged our lives for as long as most of us can remember.

The ban on single-use plastic containers in 2019 has helped. But in large measure the problem remains with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and other such waste items everywhere.

Such pollution not only ‘uglifies’ our physical spaces, it blocks drains, worsening flooding episodes such as was reported on by this newspaper on Sunday about Railway Lane in Montego Bay. Blocked drains lead to stagnant water which creates breeding sites for mosquitoes — purveyors of deadly diseases with which we have had to contend far too often.

In major gully courses the situation is even more startling, since that’s where some people choose to discard old tyres, old car parts and such. Indeed, even old refrigerators, stoves, and remains of other appliances sometimes end up in gullies.

Very heavy, though some of those discarded items are, they are still rushed towards the sea when ‘gully come down’ — a sight to behold for those who have never witnessed it — during heavy rain.

Debris that doesn’t make it to the sea often end up blocking gullies and drains which, as we have said, lead to severe flooding.

The numbers vary depending on the source, but all agree that millions of tonnes of solid waste — with non-biodegradable plastics being the biggest headache — reach the planet’s oceans and rivers with devastating effect on marine life and environment.

Experts say fish, lobsters, crab, et al, we eat are being increasingly contaminated by such pollution.

It’s with all of the above in mind that progressive-minded groups, including environmentalists, tourism workers, etc, from time to time, volunteer to clear beaches, roads, neighbourhoods of garbage.

We take note of another such initiative, reported on Sunday, of staff from the newly opened resort, Sandals Dunn’s River, clearing more than 1,000 pounds of garbage and discarded items from beaches in St Ann last Thursday.

The actual clean-up is obviously to be commended. But of equal, perhaps even more value, it seems to us, is the example set for Jamaicans — some of whom unfortunately, probably take garbage for granted.

The situation cries out for greater public education, which is why we are very pleased, that Sandals Foundation volunteers found time for an environmental awareness session with students of Salmon Basic School in Exchange, St Ann.

We are told that the tourism workers explained the importance of keeping the beaches clean and urged children to assist in anti-litter campaigns in their communities.

We note that the Government plans to extend its plastic ban to lunch boxes come the end of this year, with the responsible minister, Senator Matthew Samuda, arguing for recyclable paper-based alternatives.

That’s good.

But it seems to us the ultimate solution must be for people to buy into safely discarding garbage, including recycling where possible.

In formal and informal media, as well as schools, churches, bars, dance halls, wherever people gather, the message that we cannot continue to ‘dutty up’ Jamaica should be amplified and sustained.