In recent weeks, Guyana’s Solid Waste Management Unit has been grappling with significant challenges caused by inclement weather, resulting in mounting piles of garbage in various wards, including Campbellville and La Penitence.
Walter Narine, the Director of Solid Waste Management, sheds light on the issues and discusses potential solutions to alleviate the situation.
Narine reveals that above-average rainfall and tidal effects have compounded the difficulties faced by sanitation workers.
“Remember you working with the tide, so once the tide drop everything comes down and the tide goes back up everything floats up,” he explains, highlighting the impact of tidal patterns on garbage collection efforts.
Furthermore, contractors’ hesitancy to navigate poorly maintained roads has exacerbated the problem, making it challenging to access certain areas for garbage collection.
Despite these challenges, Narine reassures the public that efforts are underway to address the situation.
Assistance from the Guyana Defence Force and the Ministry of Public Works has been enlisted to aid in cleaning affected areas.
Narine emphasizes, “No area is being left not clean. Once we are aware of the areas we send our workers to clean it”
In addition to immediate measures, discussions have commenced with Canadian organizations to establish a municipal compost facility.
This facility aims to manage organic waste effectively by shredding and composting it.
Narine underscores the potential benefits of such a facility, including providing compost to farmers while simultaneously addressing garbage issues.
Efforts are ongoing to mitigate the impact of inclement weather on garbage collection, with the Solid Waste Management Unit actively pursuing long-term solutions to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable environment for all residents.