People wait for the truck to carry out its late-night rounds, claims the manager of the solid waste and collection division, Elvis McPhee.
“I thought we would have encountered more problems than we would have initially, but we are having a good time and these people really care about the environment and they want to see something happening,” Mr. McPhee said Monday. He said the division sees night collection as the possible “way to go.
“We know this is the way to go if we plan to compete with the global community or in the global arena. We must look at alternative measures and ways of delivering to the public a product that they deserve.”
Mr. McPhee said “much more” can be accomplished by collectors during the night that allows the division to have more vehicles and personnel available during the day to focus on inner-city areas and areas many feel are being neglected.
“We are focusing our attention more on the eastern end of the area, because of the traffic situation. We have to take into account persons trying to get to work and how we may have hindered them with our vehicles being on the streets during the morning hour. Once we free up these vehicles used in the night, we can use them (trucks) during the day.”
Mr. McPhee said the only concerns expressed to the division was the noise of the trucks and workers at night.
Initially launched on Aug. 8, the night-time disposal of garbage is a part of an effort to provide “timely” collection services to residents between seven p.m. and two a.m.
The areas getting night-time collection, include: Sea Breeze Lane, Pineyard Road, Sandilands Village, Port New Providence, Fox Dale Subdivision, Colony Village, Dannottage Estates, Hillside Park View Estates, Monastery Park and Gleniston Gardens. Other areas are expected to be added.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health Ron Pinder said the collection from these areas will continue until the division gets back “on stream” with its schedule.
“We are really considering implementing this on more of a long-term basis, simply because it is more convenient for the workers, the sun is not out and the heat is reduced significantly. In addition to this, there are less distractions via the motoring public and other distractions that would occur during the day,” Mr. Pinder said.
“Right now, we are doing this as a contingency measure to get back on stream and on schedule so that we can return on a regular basis with garbage collection during the week. But if we find that it is the way to go for the entire island, then the department will have to consider doing this on a permanent basis,” Mr. Pinder said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
