DSWMC concerned over garbage pile up in Roseau

Garbage on King George V Street in Roseau on Thursday

General Manager of Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), Florian Mitchell is concerned over the pile-up of garbage in Roseau saying people are still not adhering to the rules of garbage collection in and around the city and other parts of the country.

He spoke to Dominica News Online of the problem on Wednesday.

“What we have noticed in Roseau is that some of the small commercial entities, and some of the medium, they would place the garbage on the curb,” he said. “Some of them would use vagrants, pay them a small stipend and those vagrants would come to those establishments, take it and put it on the road. We have shops and boutiques, we have different types of industries…but whether small or large you have a role and responsibility to ensure that you manage your waste and you transport your waste to an approved site, not place it out on the curb for the waste management authority to collect.”

Mitchell revealed that the corporation has been trying to talk to the commercial entities but some of them are not complying with the rules.

“We want to see a level of greater level of communication from the general public because if you have the systems in place, you want to ensure that the public is actually adhering to the collection time and frequency for their community for the specific material,” he noted.

According to him in the context of Roseau, the corporation is looking at Roseau City Centre and that there are two collection systems within the area.

One is what he said is called an “ES” where commercial enterprises can contact the waste management authority and “a contract is drawn up and a service is rendered to those entities.”

“Then the residential collection in the Roseau City context is done three times a week and that we want the residents and the public to be mindful of,” Mitchell remarked.

He pointed out that residential collection in the city is Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and garbage “should be placed out in the afternoons from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm” only.

He said the solid waste department plans to work with the police in setting up an enforcement system to assist in that regard.

“One of the things we are trying to do with the police is to set up an enforcement system whereby we actually get the police to help us do enforcement in the City and the rest of the island,” Mitchell noted. “We want it to start in the City because it is actually a nuisance seeing what is happening within the City.”

He mentioned also that there are future plans for Roseau where a specific vehicle has been earmarked for the City.

“Roseau City Centre would have its own garbage collection equipment,” he explained. “The financing is available, we are just awaiting the details from the supplier with all the specifications.”

He revealed that the new truck will be added to the solid waste collection before the end of the year.

Mitchell said further that for the second component, the solid waste department would want to implore residents in Roseau to have receptacles for specific waste.

“For example, if you have your dwelling home we want to implement a two-bin system,” he explained. “Again we haven’t gotten the finance for that yet but that is something we are looking to see how we can get. You will be able to have two bins, one for recycling and the other for general waste.”

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27 Comments

  1. notinterestedintheleast soft drink
    May 15, 2018

    Hold on hold on hold!!!!!!! the solid waste management company, the authority responsible for collection of garbage and solid waste is concerned about the pile up of rubbish is roseau? Why is there a pile up? why dont they just ask government for 1 or 2 more trucks and pick up the rubbish like they are supposed to do? and this is my problem. Here we see stories of millions floating through dominica year in year out but the people, well, i certainly dont see where it all goes. Like the road tax for example? when will the roads be resurfaced? So here i would like solid waste and the government to invest in adequate machinery to properly do the job in a manner that is compliant with 1st world standards. properly equip and train your workers and the job will be done efficiently, because today, we still collect rubbish like its the 70’s and 80’s.

  2. wayne shaw
    May 14, 2018

    The situation is getting worse. As you travel around the island there are piles of rubbish which then get blown away and litters everywhere else. This beautiful island is becoming a dumping ground for litter from plastic bags to cars. We encourage visitors to come and see this lovely place on earth but all they see is garbage garbage and promises which are garbage. We have a duty not to litter, the Government has a duty to encourage us and the tools to help us manage this mess. Are we to wait until we get the next health scare?

  3. May 12, 2018

    Same old, same old.

    In Dominica, how can you tell? People, the Dominicans, litter everywhere.

  4. Josh Shaw
    May 11, 2018

    While this guy has a point the system that he spoke about is broken as these trucks are seldom on time! DSWM must know they are causing this problem!

  5. google
    May 11, 2018

    Well said sir!
    Also agree with Bully that ppl just don’t adhere to the regulations and its HIGH time to make some ppl pay especially some small business owners around the town. Drive around town between 5 and 6 pm and you see them putting out their garbage.

  6. Neville
    May 11, 2018

    If the next hurricane doesn’t finally finish Dominica the rats will (and yes I’m talking about both species, the two legged and the four legged ones).

  7. Da passports
    May 10, 2018

    Roseau have mayor collecting and president sits giving old people thousands of dollars $$$$$$ for doing nothing and paying young people 500$ to pick up garbage and plant flower by the road #NEP #NextLevel

  8. May 10, 2018

    Nothing new, Skerrit dem don’t respect the laws, you think ordinary people will?
    D/ca is messed up in all ways

  9. Dominica Lost
    May 10, 2018

    Is roseau alone nuh????? fella de whole country like La Bass…. each village have ah area that looking like a dumping ground …… not make-shift rubbish truck nuh allu have making sot in de country. Everything in that country back to front.

  10. Goodwill
    May 10, 2018

    Too much talk, not enough action. Pick up the garbage on a regular basis and fines must be imposed on those who litter. Talking will not get anyone to adhere to the litter Act. Pure and simple. Consequences for those who do not comply.

  11. Ibo France
    May 10, 2018

    Strict enforcement of the litter laws will certainly alleviate the garbage problem not only in Roseau but throughput the country. Caribbean people show little concern for environmental issues. The DSMWC has a very critical role to play in the cleanliness of Dominica. The garbage trucks should be consistent in the collection of the garbage. The collection should be like clockwork, on time and regular. Employ litter wardens and empower them with the authority to issue summons for the violation of litter laws. The police doing this extra duty as suggested by the General Manager might not work effectively. The personnel in management and supervisory positions can give talks in schools against littering and proper disposal of garbage. Target the general public with regular talk shows on radio stations, jingles, slogans and signs in various communities. The DSMWC has to be more proactive. Citizens can show love for country simply by not littering and disposing of their waste fittingly.

  12. Bully
    May 10, 2018

    The people are downright untidy and that is the problem and do not like to adhere to regulations. Need to give a few litterers ticket and then the others will learn. You clean now and they litter 2 minutes later. The article above is straightforward time and days to put out your garbage.

  13. MegSo
    May 10, 2018

    Impose fines and adhere to them.

  14. Floridan Diaspora
    May 10, 2018

    Is this how skeritt is preparing Roseau to be the first climate resilient city?

  15. marie-claire R Skerrit
    May 10, 2018

    please tell me where and what is the mayor doing..

    • derp
      May 10, 2018

      Roseau have Mayor nuh mamzel not doing nothing

      • Bully
        May 10, 2018

        Does the Mayor have to oversee you to tell you when and how to manage your garbage? Persons are to be responsible for their garbage and adhere to rules – put in garbage bags, tie it securely, compact the light materials – styrofoam and plastic bottles, manage leftovers – feed the animals or put in a plastic bag by itself inside the original bag and put out at the stipulated times and days as stated above. The police who are also litter wardens (see the act) and other litter wardens should issue tickets and a ticket for litter should be $500.00. Then we will see results. Bad mind people are litters — Hear them if I do not dirty, then there will be no work. Really Really then it is outright nastiness. A Clean environment is so nice!

        Seem all you need to go to school to learn garbage management!

      • Toto
        May 11, 2018

        Bully, what we paying Madame Mayoress for if she does not apply the rules. I say get tough, enough talking, fine these people, take them to court and make them pay. Roseau is a garbage tip.

  16. Jayson
    May 10, 2018

    Where can a private citizen from Roseau, Portsmouth or Marigot dump their garbage in the event that the garbage truck is unable to collect it for several days?

    If the location is somewhere too far or, if it is somewhere you have to PAY for it to be allowed to be dumped, then THIS is the root of the garbage disposal problem in our communities.

    • Bully
      May 10, 2018

      Jayson manage your garbage. did u not read the article – there are three days to put out your garbage and there are times stipulated too. Your garbage who produced it??? you manage your garbage – put in bags – give the dogs your leftover food, compost what is compostible and put out your garbage in a bag at the stipulated time. On another note you can purchase a bin and put your plastic bags into it and wheel it out or put it out at the stipulated time – compact your garbage too – squash up the styrofoam, crush the plastic bottles and be neat about it and you will see a difference. Manage manage your garbage – it is yours until pick up time. : :-D

    • Hmph
      May 11, 2018

      You talking about days? What about in San Sauveur where the garbage truck will pass every three-four months, and when they come is because we HARASS Solid Waste to send a truck??

  17. Floridan Diaspora
    May 10, 2018

    Roseau and it’s filth is just a reflection of what our country has become under this Dominica lazy government. Sure we don’t have to put politics in everything but what else is there to be blamed besides skeritt and his bunch of nincompoops? No side walks, no bicycle lanes, no street lights, no garbage trucks, lots of garbage, lots of unemployment, labor ka travay

  18. we are watching you
    May 10, 2018

    Just in time for the tourist season, what better way to show off Dominica than a bunch of piled up garbage.

  19. May 10, 2018

    This government need to be blame ..Why the government refusing to force the laws.

  20. Amarossa
    May 10, 2018

    smh.
    You all trying to close the stable door after the horse done run outside.
    When you don’t implement actions with words what do you all expect?? Some Dominicans already have a nasty mind-set, once it not in front of my door I doh worry.
    Mr. Mitchell i think you will have to lobby the government to bring in some Swedish experts to help you all with a plan. Sweden has an excellent trash to energy program that is so successful, that they have to import trash from other countries to fuel their energy.

    • Bully
      May 10, 2018

      The people are downright untidy and that is the problem and do not like to adhere to regulations. Need to give a few litterers ticket and then the others will learn. You clean now and they litter 2 minutes later. The article above is straightforward time and days to put out your garbage.

  21. Lenpro
    May 10, 2018

    I am not surprise. Dominicans has no sense of purpose. They have no pride in their country’s cleanliness. They no clue to what a clean city with citizens who are the same page when it comes to good behavior on trash handing. Dominicans have allowed politics and party destroy their pride integrity and dignity in regards to their country’s sanitation and maintaining a clean environment. Dominica will always be at the bottom of the list in the Caribbean when it come to development regardless what their government do. It is your actions and shallow mentality that keeping you back

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