Haulers of waste in Dominica are being called upon to abide by the laws and guidelines as it relates to disposing of garbage.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), Jeno Jacobs said it is important that haulers who transport waste from their business places to the landfill hold a valid license.
Jacobs was addressing the start of a Hauler’s Workshop organized by the DSWMC which took place at the Dominica Red Cross Building in Goodwill on Monday.
“Solid Waste Management Act 1 of 2002 states that those persons who haul waste from the business to the landfill should be holders of a waste hauler’s license which is an instrument given to them by the Minister of Health,” he said. “We have the form the waste haulers are asked to fill in with pertinent information and their license is given to them by the Minister of Health.”
The fee for the haulers, he said, is $150 per year.
Jacobs stressed that the condition of vehicles used to transport waste is a serious concern to the Corporation.
“I see also some of the vehicles that waste haulers use for transporting waste from hotels or business places, travels through Roseau … some of the vehicles are almost derelict in a sense,” he explained. “They drive, yes, but you seeing the back of the vehicle falling off, as piece of board holding it, rope tying it up and things like that that for us is of concern. Requirements for the management of waste during transportation ensure the coverage of waste in the vehicle at all times, sufficient to ensure that waste cannot fall out, be blown out of or otherwise escape from the vehicle except when deliberately deposited at a waste management facility permitted to accept the waste.”
He further stated that proper clothing is important when waste is being transported for disposal.
“Your face mask, your gloves, your aprons…the smell of what you are carrying is very dangerous,” he stated.
Jacobs warned waste haulers to stay away from transporting chemicals, which should also be transported only by the DSWMC.
He also said that waster hauler’s license should be clearly visible from the outside of vehicles.
“A licensee who fails to comply with the conditions of the permit commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for a term of six months,” he said.
Jacobs mentioned also that every licensee should review his disaster preparedness response plan by March every year by law.
He revealed that in the event of any harm to human health, safety or the environment caused through the failure of the licensee to exercise due diligence in the management or transportation of waste, the licensee is liable at the suit of, “a person injured, for damages; and the State for compensatory damages for loss to the state property and compensation to the State for its expenses in mitigating the harm to human health, safety or the environment.”
There are about 40 waste haulers in Dominica.
You could change the job title of those who collect the garbage and are called garbage collectors. This name has a stigma to it.
In Toronto of all they are called “Sanitary Engineers.” Note the difference. This name is a respectable one. They make good money too. Much more than office workers in administration make.
If they will be trained for this job, then give them an appropriate job title you wish; not garbage collectors. They will then command respect from the public. The public will also respect them.
Mr. Jacobs is only responding after a photo and an article that were both posted on DNO received widespread criticism from all and sundry who saw it. There are laws governing a vehicle’s road worthiness. Enforce them!!
Good for you Anthony, what is Solid Waste doing with a P.R. executive that only reacts? We should be pro-active and not only at Solid Waste. No offense brother Jacob but what do you do all day?
Instead of telling people to obey the law, ENFORCE the law.
The government enact all kinds of laws that are routinely broken without consequence. The populace knows that, so they have no regard for those laws.
Those laws are a total waste of time unless they are enforced.
Iam asking again what is the process for checking that these vehicles are roadworthy? Where are they checked and by whom? I never see a truck of any kind being checked at the vehicle licensing facility near the Inland Revenue office in Roseau. So many with bald tires, missing or defect lights, no brake lights or indicators. It makes me wonder if they even pay their road tax and insurance. Something is wrong here.
Mervin they talking bout…. I wonder if its a personal attack… If the pay is bad. How do i maintain the vehicle? Mystomach first! Dere own men not masking up, neither apron. But u hittin on others
Do those guys drive at the back of the truck? If so, it is unsafe for them. You definitely need better trucks, probably bigger ones that are better equipped to haul garbage including being road-worthy, that is not falling apart. If they are not road-worthy, i.e., falling apart, the authorities should issue a directive to repair the trucks immediately. If this is not done, charge the amount of money they could be fined. It is time to get serious.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), Jeno Jacobs, for a few years, Toronto has a new garbage collection system which could be helpful to you. It is rather rigid. If you are in need of information about proper garbage collection and disposal, you could contact the Municipal Government, the Mayor’s office for this. You will be directed to the proper department/authority to provide you with this vital information.
Roseau is called a City, it should be operated as a City.
I meant to state all of Canada has this new system and recycling which residents are also obligated to adhere to. They, too, could be fined if they fail the requirements for as much as not using the proper garbage bin and bags for disposal. If they don’t, their garbage will not be picked up. We have laws here which must be adhered to, otherwise . . . you know the rest that will ensue
Laws in Dominica are nearly never enforced. Consider noise laws. Make a few pay. It is ridiculous that they have to be told to obey the law.
****TOO MANY HANDS NOT ENOUGH LEADERSHIP*****
“Jacobs stressed that the condition of vehicles used to transport waste is a serious concern to the Corporation”.
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The whole issue of garbage collection should be under the direct/complete control of DSWMC!! Doing so will ensure that the collection of garbage is done in an orderly and uniform manner!
-Thanks
Mr. Jacob cannot be serious. Listen to his words ” your face mask, your , your apron… the smell of what you are carrying is very dangerous” . This is a total opposite of what I see from his workers apart from the gloves. The picture above by DNO says it all.