(Stock Photo)

(Stock Photo)

Members of the public are being encouraged to support the new pilot refuse collection project rolled out yesterday by the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

Under the project, four companies – Williams Liquid & Solid Waste Management Inc.; Garbage Master Limited; Forde’s Freighting and Rental Services Inc.; and Project Recycle Limited – were contracted by the SSA to collect refuse from the parishes of St. Lucy, St. Peter, St. John and St. Philip, Mondays to Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

General Manager at the SSA, Rosalind Knight, said: “What we are aiming to do is give everyone a collection once per week, and avoid situations where people are not getting collections for two and three weeks.”

Speaking during an interview with the Barbados Government Information Service, Ms. Knight explained that with the private trucks working in the four parishes, the SSA’s trucks and crew were reallocated to cover and maintain the island’s remaining seven parishes.

“Instead of the limited number of trucks being spread over 11 parishes, they are now confined to just seven parishes to help us to maintain collections once per week,” she pointed out, while giving the assurance that the new initiative would not affect the jobs of the SSA staff.

She urged members of the public to give the crews their full support, recognising that the initiative has just started and would need to be tweaked as challenges were detected.

As a result, Ms. Knight advised residents living in the four parishes being serviced by the private waste haulers, to contact the SSA at 535-5000, or the hotline at 535-5006, if their street was omitted during collection.

“They [private waste haulers] are new to the programme, so it is possible that they would miss a street or two. So, if you are having a problem in your area with collection, we simply ask that you call us and let us know so we can assist you better,” she urged.

Under the new project, Williams Liquid & Solid Waste Management Inc., Garbage Master Limited and Forde’s Freighting and Rental Services Inc., will cover the parishes of St. Lucy and St. Peter.

Meanwhile, Forde’s Freighting and Rental Services Inc., and Project Recycle Limited will both cover St. Philip and St. John.

In addition, Ms. Knight explained that a skip programme would be established, primarily in areas such as Eden Lodge and Nelson Street, St. Michael; and Gall Hill and Silver Hill in Christ Church, where there were usually large pile-ups of garbage and communal dumping areas.

“We are looking at a way of making the garbage easier to collect,” she stated.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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