…Management to get more attention in 2016Solid waste management in the capital city was a major bugbear in the past few years that may have directly and indirectly led to many environmental and health issues in the city but efforts are in train to remedy the situation by the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Department.Georgetown Mayor and City Council Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, speaking to Kaieteur News, exclusively, said that his department has started a night collection and street sweeping in the commercial district to complement the work of the private garbage collector in the area.The objective is to have a clean commercial area for all to benefit in the mornings. The various crews start from 18:00hrs and work up to 23:00hrs on Mondays to Saturdays.“We also are in the process of initiating a Municipal composting program to deal with organic waste from the Municipal Markets,” Narine assures.The Solid Waste Department,Authentic MLB Jerseys, he noted,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, will soon roll out a programme to deal with the 3Rs: reduce,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, re-use and recycle initiative in primary schools.“Our plan and objective this year is to reduce the amount of waste reaching the landfill by educating children and adults on an effective 3 R programme.”The Solid Waste Director said that 51% of the total waste generated in Georgetown is comprised of organic waste. “If we use that waste to produce compost we will have a product that our farmers could use and also we would have reduced the amount of waste reaching the landfill thereby extending the life of the landfill site.”As of Monday, his plan is to begin to educate his administrative and field staff on composting techniques. Thereafter the process will begin in the capital city.“The one area of concern to me in terms of garbage is the seawall and we are currently looking to arrest that situation very soon.”While the overall cost for cleaning the capital varies according to officials of the City Treasurer’s Department, Narine said that it costs the City Council approximately $30 million per month to deal with garbage in the city. This includes payment to contractors and resources from the Solid Waste Department.He informed that the fire which raged at the Haags Bosch site aback of Eccles has been costly. Efforts are in train to seal off the cell so to prevent re-igniting of the fire.As part of efforts to tackle the solid waste situation in Georgetown Narine said the high contributors of solid waste in Georgetown are being cleared twice weekly at present.The Solid Waste Director’s advice to residents is for homes and other places to have a waste receptacle that has a fixed cover. This,Cheap Jerseys USA, he says, will prevent the spreading of disease via mosquitoes and flies.He is adamant, “Do not burn your refuse because the waste generated by households comprise of toxins and is extremely dangerous to humans. If your refuse is not collected on the day of collection the Solid Waste Department can be contacted on 223-5127,Cheap Throwback NBA Jerseys, 223-5126 or 233-7894 and we will ensure your garbage is collected promptly.”He warned that while residents see it fit to burn garbage there are risk factors involved. Burning garbage that contains harmful chemicals such as bleach,Jerseys NFL China, acid or oil can contaminate the air.“If they contain toxic chemicals like dioxin they can reach the air that people breathe and will result in a public health and respiratory problem.”“Improper waste disposal in waterways will result in flooding. It also affects marine and animal life which comes back to humans because we depend on these animals and fishes for food.”Of note, Naraine said,Anthony Steen Dolphins Jersey, the health effects from chemicals contaminated from improper waste disposal include mercury and the most serious effect from mercury poisoning are the neurotoxicity and the toxicity to the kidney.Another chemical that is a source for concern is Cadmium which leads to the disease known as Itai-Itai which is the common disease attributed to cadmium exposure.
