ST THOMAS, Jamaica — The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is clamping down on illegal dumping sites or mini dumps in St Thomas communities.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation on February 13, Public Cleansing Inspector in charge of Western St Thomas, Kashane Grossett, said the issue is a pressing one, and has even been noticeable on the newly constructed Eleven Miles to Albion leg of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP).

Grossett reported that the NSWMA successfully removed two sites recently, “one in Yallahs Bay and [another] in West Albion to Woodburn road, where we have cleaned up the area and have gone ahead and erected ‘No Dumping’ signs, and we are currently awaiting additional signs to conduct more operations along the highway”.

The inspector said that these illegal dumping sites not only mar the beauty of the parish but also pose serious health and environmental risks.

“Furthermore, they can lead to serious traffic accidents as many of these dumps encroach upon the main road. At the NSWMA, we are doing our best to clamp down on these illegal dumps, but we are asking for your assistance in this effort. We would like for us to come together as a parish to encourage our residents to be more vigilant and proactive in preventing these illegal dumping sites,” Grossett said.

He is urging residents to report illegal dumping to the local authorities and to encourage their neighbours and friends to dispose of their waste responsibly as well as to recognise the importance of using designated waste-collection points.

— JIS