No interruption in garbage collection schedule

Barbadians do not have to worry about their garbage collection schedule being interrupted during the upcoming two-week national lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Acting General Manager of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) Michael Nicholls told Barbados TODAY that the garbage collection process will continue as usual, and noted that workers will be following all established protocols, including maintaining their social distance, wearing masks, and sanitizing at all times while on the job.

With Prime Minister Mia Mottley announcing that there will be a national two-week “pause” from February 3, Nicholls said the SSA currently has an adequate number of approximately 35 to 40 garbage trucks traversing the island daily.

“Nothing has changed as far as our refuse collection process goes. There will be no disruptions whatsoever, except if we have persons that have to go and be tested we will probably lose a staff member or two for a couple of days. We have had a couple of fellows go to get tested, but thankfully all of them tested negative,” Nicholls said.

He also indicated that the workers have received training from a Ministry of Health official on how to engage in safety protocols to protect themselves and workers. The acting General Manager said in light of the developments as it relates to the pandemic in recent weeks, there may be the scheduling of another training session soon.

“In recent times you would have seen our teams out there working and they are in normal clothing. But very shortly you should see them in their uniforms and wherever we have to wear the PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] you will see those guys wearing them.

“Once we go to Government institutions that are medical facilities, you will see the fellows in PPE so that by the time they leave there they will dispose of those. We will be masking up our workers, we are ensuring that wherever possible they have more than one mask so that they can make the necessary changes. We are doing all that we can to protect all of them,” he said.

The Acting General Manager is however appealing to Barbadians to follow good containment practices and appropriately discard their garbage to make the job as easy as possible for workers. He announced that plans are in train for the introduction of a mechanized digitized system to stop workers from having to lift garbage bins.

“We want to send the message to all those persons who are dumping illegally that we are having CCTV footage and we are presently working on legislation whereby persons who dump illegally will have to face the law courts. Illegal dumping is a very serious matter. It is one that affects us all, even the person who is doing it themselves.