BATTLING the foul stench emanating from garbage disposed of along the rodway, residents in an area of Waltham Park, St Andrew have called on local officials to impose strict penalties on perpetrators who continue to litter their community.

On Wednesday, they told the Jamaica Observer that despite the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s (NSWMA) efforts to clean the heavily littered area, both community members and passing motorists continue to treat the roads as personal dumping grounds, significantly reverting progress.

“It affects me because when dead [animals] are there, [the wind] blows the stench and it affects us. People drive and throw the rubbish there, so it’s not the residents alone. Other people come with rubbish and throw it [from their] vans, cars, everything. Sometimes when you call to them some of them curse at you, or drive away,” complained one resident who asked not to be named.

She added that garbage collectors regularly clean the area, but noted that the roadways quickly return to their previous state as commuters and residents continue their bad habits.

“The [garbage collectors] come every morning, but by dem clean, people throw rubbish there again, that’s why the rubbish pile up like that. So now when they come they only clean the front part [of the community] and leave it because they cannot manage it. Backhoe truck come and take it up and then by the next day it pile up again. They cut trees and throw them down, the old fridge and old mattresses, that’s what cause the pile-up,” she said.

The resident called on fellow community members to do better at disposing of their garbage, and urged motorists and other road users to desist from littering the area.

Another resident said that the situation makes living uncomfortable, describing situations in which members of the community are labelled as “nasty” because of the pile-up of rubbish.

“Sometimes, even when you’re coming off of the taxi, [other passengers] start to talk and it look bad because we live down there. Remember that it’s at the top of [our street], so for the people that live down there, people say, ‘Lawd, them people deh nasty’, and we’re not the only ones throwing garbage up there,” she said.

Her solution to the problem is simple: Those who refuse to conform should be imprisoned.

“It doesn’t smell good. Remember that people have their business place and people live here too. It nuh look good. Residents must do better, but it’s people who drive by and leave the rubbish there, we see them all the time. So anybody you see [littering], lock them up,” she argued.

Another member of the community detailed that the garbage attracted insects and rodents to the area, making even breathing unbearable at times because of the stench. She recommended the installation of cameras so that perpetrators can be caught and held accountable under the law.

“It’s very bad — rat, roach, fly, everything. Dead animals are over there so the flies come over, it’s very bad. It’s stink, I can’t even open my window,” she said.

“They need to put up a camera or set up something for this to stop. They need to lock up somebody or something for this to stop,” said the irate resident.

Another resident said garbage was not collected frequently enough, but he noted that even as collectors removed the rubbish, it returned just as quickly.

“Resident’s unuh can do better.. All residents mi a talk. Those of you carrying your garbage to litter the place, please just unite and make the garbage look better. Stop pile up the waste, please,” he pleaded.

Garbage piled up on Waltham Park Road Wednesday.