A stern warning was issued on Wednesday by executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Audley Gordon, who said sanitation workers caught extorting residents for waste collection services risk disciplinary action, as the authority moves to clamp down on the growing practice.

Gordon, who was addressing Parliament’s Infrastructure and Physical Development Committee, made it clear that residents should not be paying for services already covered under property taxes, as complaints mount about garbage collectors soliciting money during routine duties.

He stressed that the practice is both unacceptable and contrary to the agency’s mandate, urging Jamaicans to refuse such requests and report offenders.

“The public should know under no circumstances should they be fleeced of anything; any resource, financial resource for the duty that the sanitation worker is out there to provide. They are not under any compulsion. As a matter of fact, I put it another way: they should not give them anything,” he said.

The warning comes amid growing concern raised by Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Western Duane Smith, who told the committee that residents have complained about being pressured to pay extra fees when disposing of bulky waste. According to Smith, constituents have reported being told by truck crews that payment is expected for collection.

Gordon acknowledged that the issue is not isolated, describing it as a widespread problem across the island that the authority is now seeking to confront directly.

“It is widespread across Jamaica where my workers are seeing an opportunity to tax people. The people already pay the property tax for the service that we currently provide.”

While conceding that communication gaps may contribute to some confusion around scheduled bulky waste collection days, Gordon insisted that no misunderstanding justifies the behaviour. He pointed out that the NSWMA regularly announces collection schedules, but admitted that not all residents receive or act on the information.

The NSWMA head also highlighted recent improvements in the employment conditions of sanitation workers, noting that many are now permanently employed and receiving better compensation and benefits. Against that backdrop, he expressed frustration that some workers continue to solicit payments.

“They’re paid and their salary has also improved with the new reclassification exercise. All of them were sanitation unattached workers; they are now permanent employees. They are attached to the Government establishment, [and] they have a better, far better, salary. We are seeing some people applying now to work on the truck, that 10 years ago I wouldn’t expect to see those people asking me if they want to work on the truck,” he further expressed.

“We are not saying the salaries are the best or we’re compared to other jurisdictions. But it’s a disgrace for so much effort to be made, not just to establish you as a permanent worker, but to increase your salary and you still go there begging people,” Gordon added.

He further argued that such conduct undermines the credibility of the authority, which has invested in training and professional development for its staff, including annual sessions focused on customer service and accountability.

“We pull them in once a year for back-to-basic training… I appear at all of them and talk to them. We talk about customer service, hygiene, money management, family values, a lot of stuff…We make them come into a nice air-conditioned space, have meals with them, talk to them, encourage them, and they go there begging and bringing the authority into disrepute. We are not for it and it should not happen,” he noted.

In a bid to strengthen enforcement, Gordon encouraged members of the public to assist in identifying offenders, while exercising caution.

“I am very incensed by it and I’ll ask people, to the extent you can, without compromising your security, to snap a little pic of the truck, the plate number, if you can, so I can know the crew that was out there so I can take action against it. This is not how we operate, that’s not our modus operandi. We believe in accountability, transparency, integrity,” Gordon said.

The NSWMA, which manages garbage collection and disposal across Jamaica, has long faced challenges with resources, public awareness, and service delivery. Bulky waste collection, which is done on scheduled days, is one area where confusion and complaints continue to arise. Gordon maintained that the authority is committed to improving transparency and restoring public trust, signalling that stricter oversight and accountability measures will form part of its response as it moves to stamp out the practice.

Duane Smith, member of parliament for St Andrew North Western, addresses Parliament’s Infrastructure and Physical Development Committee on Wednesday, raising concerns about reports from constituents that garbage collectors are demanding payment for bulky waste removal services already covered by property taxes.