The Department of Waste Management is embarking on a pilot project to introduce house-to-house garbage collection in some communities next month, according to Government Information Services.
“The goal of the project is to minimise the amount of waste that goes into our community dumpsters,” said Waste Management Officer Marquese Maduro. “This will ultimately allow us to reduce the quantity and size of some of our community bins along the road sides.”
During the pilot project, which is to start on Aug. 19, select areas will be serviced, including Hawks Nest, Lambert Estate, Balsam Ghut and Beef Island. If the system is successful, it also may allow the department to offer collection of recyclable waste at a residential level, according to GIS.
As part of the educational outreach for the initiative, technical officers from the department spent the last few weeks meeting with residents in the selected communities about the pilot project.
In Hawks Nest, Lambert Estate, Balsam Ghut and Beef Island, collection is to start at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
To deter rodents, stray animals and other pests, the department is encouraging the residents to take out their trash on the morning of collection — not the night before.
Additionally, all garbage should be placed in secure, weather resistant storage containers.
The DWM has partnered with Rite Way Limited and Drake’s Traders to offer discounts on bins during the pilot initiative, according to GIS.
While the department hopes to extend the programme as widely as possible, Mr. Maduro noted that because of the landscape and infrastructure on Tortola, it is challenging to introduce house-to-house garbage collection to all communities.
For more information, call the DWM at 494-6245 or e-mail dwm@gov.vg.
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