City Hall budgets $263 million for solid waste disposal
Mondale Smith
Kaieteur News
June 14, 2004
GEORGETOWN- The Georgetown Municipal Solid Waste Department has an expenditure budget of $263 million at its disposal for 2004.
But many are questioning what purpose would this serve in the face of current complaints and discomfort suffered by its citizenry. These complaints have special emphasis on the final disposal site for solid waste.
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams recently said that council was to have reviewed seven of ten contracts for collection of household waste in the city. But there has been no forthcoming word on the current status even as discomfort and complaints continue to mount.
While there has been no word on the outcome of the review, Deputy Mayor Robert Williams recently announced that possibilities are that twice per week clearance is likely from September 1 in areas currently experiencing garbage removal once weekly.
As part of a year plan he added that Council will continue to utilise the temporary landfill site at Mandela Avenue in an improved manner.
Among the happenings this year at that location is the clearing of canals at the perimeters of the site. The site is also to undergo a covering process with layers of earth. In addition, since a new five-acre cell has been opened City Hall is to use modern landfill measures and procedures to contain any pollution.
Based on recent publications in the media a public awareness programme involving Guyenterprise, residents and community groups in Regent Street and Lodge on the importance of best practices in waste management is on going.
PROGRESS ON ECCLES LANDFILL SITE
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, with reference to the proposed Eccles landfill site, said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is still ongoing but a decision has been taken to move the site some three kilometers to the east of the earlier identified area.
He said that the operations will utilise 100 acres instead of the original 300 acres based on studies done and recommendations of the consultants, Trow International.
The deputy mayor pointed out that a programme is being pursued to divert 50 percent of waste which is made up of biodegradable materials for composting.
He added that Council in the interim is pursuing the allocation of 500 bins in the city as part of the public awareness programme. “These bins should be in place before December 31, 2004,” he said.
However the deputy mayor said that the success of these measures will greatly depend on the discipline of the citizenry.
He categorically stated that misuse of these bins or littering around them will not help the process. Neither will the littering of the canals and drains. Thus the enforcement arm will be strengthened, he added.