FREEPORT, St James — Encouraged by what it says has been a significant improvement in waste collection within western Jamaica over the last three months, the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s (NSWMA) regional arm has now set its sights on the western end of the country being backlog-free by the end of this week.

Edward Muir, regional operations manager of the Western Parks and Markets (WPM) Waste Management Limited — the regional arm of the NSWMA — said that over the past three months the entity has achieved a significant improvement in waste collection within western Jamaica.

He said this will continue into the yuletide season as the entity works on achieving zero backlogs.

“Prior to the [last] three months, we have been having some challenges in the western region. With the additional 11 new trucks and some plans that we have put in place, we have seen some significant reduction as it relates to backlog,” stated Muir.

He was referencing compactor garbage trucks received in June.

“We have been enjoying single-digit, and in some parts zero, backlog over the past three months,” Muir added during a press briefing held at the WPM office in Montego Bay on Wednesday.

He gave a breakdown of garbage collection backlog cases within the four parishes under his watch.

“We are not complacent, and we do understand that a backlog in a community is a lot. But what is important is that across the entire St James there were times when we had somewhere like 15, 16 loads of backlog. We are down to three loads, and we expect to have zero backlog in St James by the end of this week,” stated Muir.

As for Trelawny, the backlog is currently at three loads. Two in the northern end of the parish and one in the south.

Muir said systems are in place to ensure further reduction.

“We have four units in Trelawny as we speak. We intend to clear Trelawny by the end of the week,” he said.

As for Hanover, there is currently no backlog on the eastern end and two loads on the western side.

Of all the parishes, Westmoreland has the highest number of backlog: four loads.

Muir attributed this to the distance the trucks have to travel.

“Our disposal site is at Retirement [in St James]. Our units have to travel from Westmoreland all the way to St James. By doing that we only get somewhere about one-hour-and-a-half trips each day, because of the size of the trucks that we have now. Bear in mind that we have bigger trucks now and the distance that they have to travel. So the [backlog] numbers are going down, and I must say that based on some of the plans we have in place we intend to have zero backlog within a week and a half at WPM and we intend to maintain that through the end of the year,” he assured.

He later told the Jamaica Observer that the agency’s executive director, Audley Gordon, is actively exploring two options — Trelawny and Westmoreland — for the creation of a holding area or transfer station.

The operations manager said the assurance of backlog improvements is not just talk.

“It’s not just us coming out and saying the backlog is low. The figures are there to show, because last year this time we received somewhere about an average of 30 or 40 calls per day. Residents would call to say that they need garbage collection. [Now] some days we get no calls whatsoever. Some days we get a maximum, like five calls,” stated Muir.

“There has been improvement. We are not complacent, but I have to say that it is encouraging to see that our hard work is now paying off and the community and the region they are working with us as it relates to containerising their garbage so that we have a smoother and faster operation,” he added.

He is encouraging residents to continue working with the entity to reduce dumping.

“Within the four parishes — Westmoreland, St James, Hanover, and Trelawny — the residents, the communities, they have been working with us. We have seen a significant decrease as it relates to dumping. What has happened over the last couple of weeks [is] we have seen an emergence as it relates to bulk waste,” stated Muir.

He noted that WPM launched a bulk waste collection drive some time ago and people have shown an interest. He has assured that the drive will be ongoing.

“We have put systems in place where Tuesdays and Thursdays we focus on Trelawny and St James and on the back end of the week we focus on Westmoreland and Hanover,” explained Muir.

As the yuletide approaches, Muir said WPM has put in place plans to address an anticipated increase in bulky waste.

“During this time of the year, a lot of persons put out their bulk waste, fridge, [and] TV. With the additional new trucks, and we have also put systems in place, we have re-engaged some of our supplementary contractors as it relates to tipper units. We are currently putting together a schedule so that we can try our best to maintain those bulk waste collections as best as possible,” assured the operations manager.