Arnett Gardens residents tired of garbage pile-ups

Residents of Paradise Court on 10th Street, Arnett Gardens, St Andrew, find themselves once again contending with a mounting garbage crisis, fuelling sentiments of neglect.

They decry what they perceive as differential treatment owing to their status as an 'inner-city community'.

"This incident of pile-up at different skips in the area is not new and residents are disgruntled at the fact that they have to wait allegedly up to a month before the skips are clean," stated resident Peta-Gay Samuels Moran. She pointed out that the overflowing garbage has even damaged the skip, worsening the garbage spread.

Echoing similar frustrations, another resident from a neighbouring block emphasised that there is prolonged wait times for clean-up efforts.

"Them come yesterday (Monday) and clean up this skip but it took so long before them come," the person said. She attributed the persistent problem to indiscriminate dumping by individuals from other blocks, exacerbating health concerns and environmental hazards.

Residents highlighted the adverse health implications, including respiratory issues such as asthma, that have stemmed from having to burn garbage, and expressed dismay at the proliferation of disease-carrying insects infesting their homes.

However, Dramaine Jones, the regional operations manager of the National Solid Waste Management Authority , has sought to allay the residents' concerns, asserting that prompt responses to clean-up activities are under way. Jones acknowledged the challenges faced in maintaining cleanliness in the area, citing operational constraints and the recent focus on addressing incidents at the Riverton disposal site. He outlined plans to improve responsiveness, including increased community engagement and waste management initiatives such as recycling programmes.

"What we continue to face though, is that area, it's a challenge to keep clean because even when we have been consistent, there is still a pile-up and it means that we may have to do a bit of intervention as it relates to some community-related activities to help with the waste management," Jones said.

"We have been pushing out messages about recycling, composting and so on," Jones added, detailing efforts to expand recycling initiatives and enhance waste collection services in densely populated areas.

Despite the assurances of efforts being made, Jones acknowledged residents' complaints of neglect and pledged to reassess collection frequencies to prevent further pile-ups. He stressed the importance of collaboration with public health authorities to address sanitation concerns effectively.

"I can say this, everybody is on a seven-day collection cycle because that is what we can provide at this time and we aim to provide," Jones affirmed, while acknowledging the need for improvements. "But I want to add that they do not get neglected."