The Tribune

By RIEL MAJOR

THE Department of Environmental Health Services has announced that starting next month, the collection of garbage will be increased from once to twice a week.

Melony McKenzie, DEHS director, said when the “twice-weekly system is implemented more collection companies will be added to the roster.”

Ms McKenzie said in a statement: “The increase in collections is expected to significantly reduce the collections backlog normally experienced over the holiday season.

“It is not unusual to see a larger than usual accumulation of garbage because of the extra festivities over the holidays. We anticipate that the new system will result in a much smoother collections operation and adequately address the extra build-up of garbage that is normally seen every year around the Christmas holidays.

“As of around 2 o’clock Monday afternoon, the vast majority of the 61 collection routes on New Providence had been completed and we expect that very shortly, the entire island will be done.”

Ms McKenzie said eight contracted garbage collection companies worked overtime, over the weekend, to remove excess garbage.

She also reminded residents that the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) does not collect garbage from commercial businesses or apartment buildings with four or more units. Her statement came after residents of New Providence complained about uncollected trash piling up after the Christmas holidays.

The Tribune canvassed the Chippingham area on Monday, where many expressed anger about rodents and stray dogs attacking piles of trash.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s real unsanitary. It attracts rodents, the stench is starting to stink. The garbage is piling up in the house, so we have to try to organise it then the stray animals are coming and pulling down the (bags) so the garbage is hard to maintain. It was piled up for about two weeks now.”

Resident Karen Sampson said she doesn’t understand what is taking place. “I know for the past months (garbage men) were coming every Monday until the second week in December. We have the garbage secured but we don’t know what is going on.”

Wanetta Brown said: “They need to do something. No one came around to say anything and I haven’t seen anything on the news to say trucks are down. December is a festive time so this is the time you are going to accumulate more stuff because people having parties and family gatherings so if anything, they should increase the number of pickups they do for the month of December.”

Another resident, who only wanted to be identified as Mr Holmes, said: “I haven’t got any response from Environmental Health. I actually heard a garbage truck around here today and I thought they were coming to collect the garbage, but they never did. (The uncollected trash) attracts rodents, a lot of maggots and stuff with decaying garbage so it is a problem that creates a health concern for me and my neighbours so my only wish is that whatever they have going on, it can get resolved soon.”