MoBay’s mayor gets tough on illegal dumping

In a bid to prevent illegal dumping, which has been undermining the aesthetics of Montego Bay, the city's mayor, Councillor Richard Vernon, says the St James Municipal Corporation is now stepping up enforcement action.

Vernon recently told the Jamaica Information Service that special focus will be placed on the businesses, which are primarily responsible for approximately 80 per cent of the waste found at illegal dump sites. He noted that the strict enforcement will include offenders being hauled before the court, where they could face a $1 million fine.

"We will be moving around the particular vicinities to ensure that they (businesses) have a logbook that shows when their garbage was collected and who it was collected by," explained Vernon. "We also will be checking to see if they have a public or private contract for garbage removal from their premises, and we will be checking to see if they have receipts." The mayor said cameras will be installed at key locations to capture those who may seek to continue the illegal practice.

"I want to tell business owners that it is only $1,000 to be allowed entry to the landfill, as opposed to paying up to $1 million for illegal dumping. So, I want persons to desist from illegal dumping. We need to step up and to do better as a city," said Vernon.

Vernon was speaking at the 'MoBay STEP Up' programme, which was rolled out on Sunday. The initiative involves collaboration between the municipal corporation, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, through WPM Waste Management Limited, and the St James Health Department. The day's activities saw teams from the various entities removing dump sites.