NSWMA improving garbage collection in western Jamaica

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, says the agency is strengthening its fleet management to improve garbage collection across western Jamaica.

He noted that trucks and crews from other areas have been deployed to support operations in the region.

“We don’t sit on our hands… . We bring in, from time-to-time, extra trucks from other regions to help out,” he pointed out.

“This was done just two Sundays ago with 20 trucks coming in to help,” Gordon said.

He was speaking to journalists during a coastal clean-up activity at the South Gully in Montego Bay, St James, on Tuesday.

Gordon said that vehicle challenges are a normal part of operations, noting that even newly acquired trucks require routine servicing, which can result in temporary downtime.

He informed that some units damaged during Hurricane Melissa remain out of operation but the NSWMA has been utilising alternative strategies to maintain collection schedules.

In addition to fleet management, Gordon pointed to improvements in communication with the public as a key priority.

“We are also stepping up our communication because if we are down for whatever reason, we have a duty… to make sure that we communicate that we are down, why we are down and give [the public] something to hold on to,” he said.

He emphasised that timely and clear communication can help manage public expectations and improve understanding of operational challenges.

“People are basically reasonable once you are talking to them, once they are hearing something,” Gordon pointed out.

He encouraged citizens to report issues directly to the NSWMA rather than relying solely on social media.

“If you call us… you will get better results,” he said, noting that direct engagement allows for more effective response and resolution.

He reiterated that garbage collection is an ongoing process that requires both operational efficiency and public cooperation.

“Garbage collection is not an event… . We continue to generate garbage,” Gordon pointed out.

He maintained that the agency will continue to refine its operations to better serve communities while encouraging responsible waste-management practices among citizens.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.