SPM manager blames resident for garbage collection issues in Clarendon

They say a garbage truck has not visited Fairfield Drive, Coates Pen, and surrounding areas for collection in over a month and are expressing concerns about the potential health risks stemming from the poor waste management practice.

Shellyann Richards-Mason, a resident of Fairfield Drive, shared that rodents are frequent in her home from the accumulation of garbage at her home and her neighbours’ gates.

“I am tired of seeing the rubbish them and them harboring some big rats that run from out of the bags them out there so and come in my house. I am terrified not only because them big, but because them give leptospirosis,” lamented Mason, a mother with two toddlers at home.  
Region 3 operations manager for Southern Parks and Markets (SPM) Waste Management Limited, Sheldon Smith, says residents are responsible for the backlog in garbage collection affecting the parish.

“The residents’ actions are not allowing us to offer the service that is expected, they are not keeping up with their end of the bargain. We often get blamed for the issue, but the residents are the ones to be blamed,” said Smith.

He pointed out several habits of residents resulting in inadequate garbage collection, mainly: failure to separate waste at source, improper storage containers and delays in putting out garbage when the garbage trucks arrive.

“The trucks are filled too quickly, 50 percent of what we collect are biodegradable and shouldn't even be collected while some residents even tie their garbage in trees because they refuse to put a drum at their gates,” Smith explained. “All of these are time consuming, collectors have to spend too much time at each household waiting for garbage or raking up scattered garbage so the schedule is messed up.”

But resident of the neighbouring community of Coates Pen, Mellicia Gayle,  argues that she and other community members have been doing the correct practice for years and are still affected.

“Mi always a do the right thing. Mi mek sure mi bag my rubbish good and no dog can’t ketch them and them ever put out, but still no truck,” Gayle contends.

Smith conceded that there is a continuous garbage collection backlog, but pointed out that in addition to the time management hindrances caused by residents, there are currently limited resources. He however, advised that new units are expected soon.
But even with new trucks and more garbage collectors, Smith insisted that the issues will remain until residents effectively play their part in the process.

“If every household separate their waste [at source], plant a post, strap a plastic drum to it and bore holes in the bottom to properly store garbage at their gates, I guarantee that SPM would be present on schedule for each collection and provide way better services,” assured the SPM manager.