NSWMA says improved waste management could set country forward

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Collection agents picking up waste in Golden Grove New Extension and Gray’s Farm. (Photo courtesy NSWMA)
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Better attitudes towards waste management could boost the country’s development while saving millions of dollars.

Despite continued efforts by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to educate residents on best practices, it continues to struggle with improperly and illegally disposed waste.

NSWMA General Manager Daryl Spencer, spoke on the improvements that could be made elsewhere with the money being spent on the bulk waste clean-up following the completion of yet another exercise.

“The real teller here is whether we will be able to change people’s behaviour as to how they store and manage waste, and not so much the bulk waste clean-up, because if we can manage the first part, we will not need to spend millions every two years on a bulk waste clean-up.

There is so much that can be done once the culture changes,” he said.

 Noting the potential lucrativeness of the waste processing and recycling industry, Spencer also appealed to business-minded people in the country.

“There is a lot on the waste train that is of value, and I hope that before we decide to throw everything out, we can offer it up to be recycled.”

The Solid Waste GM also warned against packing Cooks landfill when other methods can be employed to deal with waste, and asked he residents to consider the county’s space constraints.

“Remember, we live in a very small space; the landfill space is finite. Antigua is not going to grow, and we already identified a location where we have decided to manage our waste, and it is best that we continue to divert as much of the valuable stuff out of the landfill, rather than having to spend millions to construct new cells to manage waste that can be otherwise used,” Spencer asserted.

While the bulk waste clean-up programme has ended, Spencer revealed that NSWMA will continue to tackle the glut of derelict vehicles across the country.

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