M&CC allocates $8M to boost for holiday garbage cleanup in 4 constituencies

The Georgetown City Council is allocating an additional $8 million for garbage collection in four high-demand constituencies, which will now receive twice-weekly pickups.
The programme, which began on November 27, will run for eight weeks and will incur an additional $8 million in costs. This is in addition above the $21 million normally spent each month on waste collection.
The four constituencies identified for the increased service are Constituency 8 (which includes Wortmanville, week-en-Rust, and Stabroek); Constituency 10 (Albouystown and Charlestown); Constituency 11 (East and West La Penitence); and Constituency 13 (East and West Ruimveldt).
Director of Solid Waste Management, Walter Narine, during a recent press conference held by the Georgetown City Council said that an analysis of waste patterns by the council revealed that these areas accumulate more garbage, particularly during the Christmas season.
He also stressed on the fact that the initiative that they would have put in place is data-driven and takes into account population density.
“Based on data we’ve gathered over the years, we’ve recognised that these four constituencies generally generate more waste, especially during the Christmas period, for a number of reasons.”
In addition to regular waste collection, bulky items and carpet waste will also be targeted during this period. Narine noted that these types of waste become particularly problematic around the holidays.
“From the 27th of November to the 25th of January, the contractors will be responsible not only for regular household waste but also for collecting carpet and bulky waste. If bulky items aren’t collected on the scheduled day, they will be removed on the Friday of the same week,” he said.
Narine acknowledged that last year’s holiday season presented significant challenges due to the lack of a clear strategy for handling increased waste.
“Last year, we faced many difficulties because we didn’t incorporate bulky waste collection into our plans. It was a tough experience,” he said. “Council resources are limited, but we’ve made the necessary adjustments this year to ensure smoother operations and better service.”
This initiative, he added, is also seen as a way of giving back to the community and they are steadfastly committed to improving from their short comings last year.
“As you know, the volume of waste during the holiday season can be overwhelming. Last year, we had to mobilise additional resources, and even the Mayor had to step in on Christmas and Boxing Day to assist with the collection. We’ve learned from that experience and are committed to improving this year,” Narine concluded. (G2)