The failure of residents to put out their garbage on the days and times it is be collected is posing a major problem for the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC).
Public Relations Officer of the DSWMC, Jeno Jacobs, said the corporation is encouraging everyone to put out their garbage on the correct days and times of collection.
“The Corporation is saying to those people that it is our environmental responsibility and waste is not the sole responsibility of the DSWMC but we should all ensure that we put out waste on the days and time of collection,” he noted.
He said the DSWMC is facing difficulties with its collection fleet but that doesn’t serve as an excuse for the disposing of waste all over the place.
“For example in the Jimmit area, after Mahaut close to Rodney’s Rock, there is that nice hot sand and tourist attraction area and everybody is disposing waste in that area,” he said. “There is another place in Layou where there is another hotspot and we are working with Gaddarkhan to come onboard with the Dominica Solid Waste Corporation to ensure that the hotspots in those areas are clean.”
He stated that, “We do not want people to take it on their own and dispose of wastes in an unsanitary manner to deface the environment.”
He said the landfill in Fond Cole is opened to those who want to dispose waste on their own.
“We are saying to these people that the landfill is opened from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm,” he stated. “All you have to pay is a small tipping fee, less than five cents a kilo of waste. It is just a contribution for disposing of waste in the landfill. They should come to the landfill and dispose of their waste and not throw it or dispose of it in the environment.”
Jacobs revealed that there is need for a cadre of young people for protecting the environment, especially at places where locals, as well as tourists, visit.
“We have been working with the Dominica Police Force, wardens from the Roseau City Council, Environmental Health Department, and Village Councils,” he noted. “We have had meetings with them to apprise them on the importance of protecting the environment, because we cannot continue to have our environment being deface like this.”
Meantime he revealed that an Adopt-A-Block project implemented by the DSWMC is working.
“We have had a number of stakeholders who bought bins costing $700 per bin and we are thankful to them,” he stated. “The Corporation is working with stakeholders, the village councils to purchase those bins that we have, because we need the funding, and also to place bins in strategic locations for the collection and disposal of waste.”
Jacobs is also appealing to those who hold public events, saying that the law states they should clean up 24 hours after the hosting of such events.
“People hold events and after these events you see a lot of litter the morning …” he noted. “We are saying to them that the Act states that they should clean the environment immediately after, less than 24 hours after they hold that event.”
Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC) Issue
Dominica News Online sounds like a PROPAGANDA mouthpiece for government at times. Every issue seems to be from an apologist standpoint. Right round the Island garbage is NOT BEING PICKED UP at all. Peoples garbage like my own is left months at time. MY GARBAGE IS BY THE CURB AND NO ONE IS PICKING IT UP. I have photos taken of piles of garbage in Woodford Hill, Wesley, Calibishi, Portsmouth, all the way to the Capital. This article is one we need to kiss teeth at. It is the garbage collectors who where not PAID which started this issue. Some owed tens of thousands of dollars. That is the issue. Now the responsibility of garbage collection fell back on government, who told me personally they have only one or two vehicles for the entire island. This again is the issue. Not some nonsense about garbage days. Moreover what is garbage day in Woodford Hill? Garbage has not been picked up in over a month. People are starting to dump.
Dominica Solid Waste is a waste-of-time! Managers must take responsibility for their blunder.
Generally, pick-up in a wide section of Roseau-South is a bluff. When the trucks miss their pick-up schedule, accumulation of garbage results including the additional mess by stray dogs.
Management of garbage by Solid Waste needs urgent revision and improvement.
What about recycling some of the items, such as the bottles and papers etc, like Barbados. It would really help out a lot with the garbage problem. I believe that the government should look into that and give assistance to whoever is willing to start off a small business into recycling.
Great idea about recycling – glass bottles, plastic, and paper items can all be recycled. Once these are removed from the regular household garbage, there will be less items going to the landfill. A recycling plant would also be a good idea. Yard waste like branches and leaves could also be recycled for mulch. These are all income generating ideas for a few industries. This would certainly help with keeping our island clean.
DSWMC must have an issue with garbage collection because they don’t throw out that old “Cabinet” its filled with all sorts of things from china and venezuela…
Mr. Jacobs
The old persons had a saying before, ‘ If you can’t hear, you will feel’, and honestly I think that this is what black people need sometimes. We need more police around to fine these persons littering like this and not following the laws. Fine them, drag them before the courts, it will be embarrassing and then they will think twice. Saying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is not working and therefore action needs to be taken. We need to realize that our branding as ‘Nature Island of the Caribbean’ is a stake, and every effort to protect that needs to be taken.
LIKE IT’S ONLY ONE TRUCK SERVING THE ISLAND ?
Why is it there are some people who will not obey the laws of the land, garbage collection and to place their garbage where they have been advised as in the landfill? There is a major garbage collection problem in D/ca. Those who are responsible for collecting the garbage do not keep to the garbage collection times. This is not fair to the residents who put their garbage out and expect it will be picked up on time, as arranged.
Then, some people who should not place garbage in areas not meant for garbage.
It appears that the garbage pick-up and those who do not place their garbage out on the day it is supposed to be picked up must be seriously addressed.
Stringent steps must be taken to ensure the garbage is picked up at the appointed time.
It appears that advising them again is to no avail. Those who do not adhere to garbage collection regulations should be fined. Make it mandatory and charge them. This is the only way for them to learn a lesson and one of discipline.
Garbage disposal can be a lucrative business for a few entrepreneurs. A fleet of trucks, drivers who are carefully chosen, garbage bins, and regular pick up days based on a schedule that is advertised. Customers who would like to be served by that waste removal company would pay an annual fee – in advance – to receive the service. Each customer receives a bin and is responsible for maintaining it.
In some villages people may be unable to access a main road to drag a bin – in those cases, there should be a pick up location, and the bins should be secured. Customers will be responsible for dumping their garbage in the bins, with specified days for pick up. Bins should remain covered to ensure that animals do not go through them.
What about a Youth National Corps – a group of young people in each village would serve in waste management for a stipend. The village council would be responsible for ensuring that villages are clean. An excellent source of employment.
Too much non-sense talk I hearing there now. Because you all are in the spotlight and mind you for the wrong reasons, you talking?!?! When you have garbage collectors passing when they want which is a very “frequent” occurrence, you have rats and all sorts of animals passing around. You have to be listening every day to hear the truck for you to run and put the garbage outside otherwise if you put it out on the designated days, you’ll have dogs knocking the bins over. Get your act in order before you make those comments!
People, let us cooperate with the DSWC. Environmental care is our business, not only the cooperation. We have a personal stake because it concerns our health.
To the Government, please allocate the environmental levy paid by the cruise ships to the DSWC as Dominica had promised to do in a loan agreement with the CDB.
We are told Wednesday is collection day…do not put rubbish out Tuesday, then perhaps they come to collect before 6am…..but more often it could be the following Sunday!
Our last collection, should have been on a Wednesday…….OH NO they came Tuesday!
Then through the grapevine I hear the rubbish will now be collected MONDAY’S.
Is there a possibility, Village Council’s could make the villagers aware of the days their rubbish is to be collected.
Perhaps a few notices in the appropriate Village………it’s really not rocket science!
How can the Government blame the people?
I live in Canefield too and it’s pretty much hit and miss for real. One time about after 1am the garbage truck was in the area. When they do this the people who put their garbage out at day break to avoid it being scattered by stray dogs, miss the truck. They say Tuesdays and Fridays and one time they pass on Sunday. What the heck. Is some unforeseen circumstance or an early pickup is gonna happen then make a damn announcement. Another thing, they used to blow the horn so people could know they ate in the area but they don’t do that no more. The horn is a GOOD ALERT. Especially if they are passing earlier. I suspect I’ll buy a garbage truck Wii. That is big business!
I can’t believe that I live on the ‘nature island’ and I see so much garbage, plastic bags (awful for the environment) and poorly executed rubbish trucks.
The other day,I saw this mish mash of a garbage truck, it was just an ordinary truck with reinforced plywood to hold in the teeming garbage, where it invariably strew the rubbish all over the road, with a couple of men who were on the truck running to pick it up.
So, the DLP (Dominica Living in Poverty) decided to spend millions on ‘sewo’ but they can’t even afford to buy decent garbage trucks?
I’m not even Dominican, but I feel shame for you and your nation!
Its an absolute disgrace and eyesore… and why are the DSWMC putting the blame on the residents? Yes, we have to take responsibility, but as usual, the agency are deflecting. Failure of things to come on this tropical island that is slowly eroding and where its moral compass is all askew due to lack of priorities.
Well said…I recently visited the island and I was shocked to see it took more then a week before the garbage truck came to pick up….
At one time they came so early in the morning,we did not have the to time to put out the garbage….They are incompetent at doing their jobs…..Real shame for my peoples…Sad sad sad…
The answer is heavy fines black people are like slaves they need whips on their backs every day. It will not be done until they are faced with jail time.
JENO I live in the beau bois gillion settlement housing area..you all suppose to pick up rubbish on Thursdays..guess what..its never collected at that day so what you want people to do..put it in the cars and come dump it at the land fill???? well your really joking
Is there a willingness for residents to pay a private contractor to collect and dispose of your garbage in a timely manner???How much monthly are you willing to pay for such service???
Also is there any law banning an interested person like myself from going into a venture like this?
Soon it will be rat infestation which will lead to serious health problems ;
While I think that solid waste team can do a better job at garbage collection we must play our part.
1) Put your garbage in containers ( like empty barrels) that it will not spread all over the place. These plastic bags that some persons put their garbage in tear easily and the garbage is all over the side of the road.
2) if we recycle and compost there will be less garbage to throw out ( especially compost.) Things like food peeling as much as possible should not make it to the garbage… (COMPOST..)
3) Burn what can be burnt
People it is very ugly to see the side roads in some communities. Passing through some villages disgust me. We can do better than that.
It is a shame to see communities like Portsmouth…
We should probably look at composting in the rural areas. Set up a compose site in each village which can be turned into small methane processing areas for community use. Advantages: Use of small tech, environmentally friendly, aid in recycling, create some small community jobs and reduces amount of waste to be transported. Just a thought!
NONSENSE!!!!!! I live in canefield and we used to put out our waste every Tuesday and Friday as specified. The truck NEVER used to pass!!!! Then we started noticing that the truck passed on the highway and never came inside Canefield at all. We cannot hold garbage inside our homes indefinitely so we put the garbage out at the side of the road on those same days. they started to pick it up the, only sometimes, when they ready. NOW, THE TRUCK IS NOT PASSING. IF IT PASSES IT”S AT 2 or 3 in the morning!! Jeno Jacob, if you don’t know what’s going on say nothing partner. Fix that process and stop passing the buck!!
Okay in my area the day for our garbge pick up sometimes the truck is early on a Wednesday. What I noticed now is that one man come on a Wednesday collects the garbage and place it in one area for the truck to pick up. Its two weeks now and no truck and dogs in garbage so what is DSWMC talking about. Where are the trucks.
Jeno Jacobs, ask God to forgive you.. You all never pass during the times allotted. You damn well know that.. Who do you want to insult with such a blatant disregard to the responsible citizens that adhere to you all times and days..such ashame. you all excuse was carnival backed you all up and fleets broke down.. we have youall taped on a telephone conversation.. thats pathetic.. do you all bloody job and stop the BS…Jah now…if you all cant do the job for heavens sake step aside….crooks..
Is Mr Jacob talking about another country here????? Solid waste has failed to correct the problem of trucks/garbage disposal for years. Last week gave it four weeks since garbage was collected in the southeast.The past eight months have been hell.So many calls have been made to them.Everyone puts out their Garbage on the days specified and solid waste is a “no show”. When they do make it they come on a Sunday or so when no one knows and persons are in church. It is such an eye saw to see all that garbage on the roadside in the Communities on a regular basis.This story is obviously back to front!
Dominicans won’t recycle metal and glass. They won’t burn paper and plastic. They won’t compost vegetable matter. They won’t bury animal waste or feed it to their dogs. They litter all over. They won’t separate what dogs go after from other trash placed out, and seem mystified when dogs strew it all over.
Add to this irregular and sloppy and inconsistent pickup.
Typical for a backwards 3rd-world slum.
mr. Tanner, I am a Dominican and love my country but it is impossible for me to defend the sloppy attitude of my fellow country men. The worst is when visitors tell me that Dominica is a beautiful country but its people are noisy and untidy (..I’m using the polite word here!). It think it is high time we start doling out some hefty fines because if not we will never learn.
Words of a simpleton.
Allu vex when people shine a light on Dominica.
If he had said how nice Dominica was, he would be getting all kinds of thumbs ups.
Let’s face it folks, if we dump rubbish all over the place, we are turning Dominica into a garbage dump.
Don’t blame the messenger. Look in the mirror instead.
Is the person who just sold he’s property in Dominica?
What has that got to do with keeping the place clean? We have too many spiteful people, in our country with little minds.
That’s not nice to call Dominica a slum!
And what about those of us in the Canefield Area who put the rubbish out on the days specified and the trucks never show up leaving all the rubbish for the dogs to make a mess? I wonder what he has to say about that!!!!
If the truck did not pass, bring your garbage back in your yard. Do not leave it out for the dogs to get into.
There should be a way for Solid Waste to inform people that there will not be a pick up on a certain day. Solid Waste and the Communities should work together. Garbage disposal is everyone business.
Thomas be real. Not everyone has a fenced yard with a gate in Dominica. Besides, if you do bring it back into your yard you still have to face the smell, flies, abolo, rats and cats. I suggest all residents are compelled to get a proper dustbin, with a lid fixed to it, subsidized if necessary and the garbage is collected on the day it is supposed to.
I believe that DSWMC should inform the general public (Canefield in particular) of the new days for garbage collection. I live in Canefield, and I found out by calling the corporation, that collection is now on Fridays only.
At least, send out messages through radio etc to inform the people.
Thank you
We talking about Tourism, but the country does not portray a clean environment to visitors. The law right now is not strict enough when it comes to protecting our environment and disposing of garbage. People nowadays are just too NASTY. Even in the Kalinago Territory where I live, sometimes after the garbage truck has passed, is when they bringing their garbage by the roadside. I mean come on, and Dominicans on a whole need to put certain garbage out for when the truck is passing, do not put food peeling, etc out for garbage truck when you can use it as compost.
hmmmm tell de darm trucks to come on the days they agree to come ,I live canefield and you all its been over two flipping weeks and no collection.
This also includes the area’s of Wallhouse, Castle Comfort etc. We were told we would be getting a collection at least once a week but not which day. We also put out our garbage and it was not collected for 2 weeks. then we got 2 collections in 1 week. We have no idea when we should be putting out our garbage. It’s all pretty much hit or miss.
I agree. I even bought a special bin from Solid Waste and put everything tied in plastic bags in that bin but the fellers don’t turn up when they are supposed to. I’m even prepared to take it to the landfill but then to have to pay again for the job they were supposed to do in the first place is an insult.
That’s a lie. The garbage was collected two Fridays ago and early Saturday morning. This past week, the same thing.
Garbage collection is on Fridays ONLY!
Please, you may be the lucky one but don’t make other people out for liars.