NSWMA Chairman Proposes Night-Time Garbage Collection to Boost Efficiency

Owen Ellington, Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), has suggested implementing night-time garbage collection to improve operational efficiency and reduce traffic congestion.

Ellington outlined the proposal during a special operations meeting held on Monday at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston, noting that roads are less congested between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

“Maybe we are competing with all the traffic on the road during peak hours to collect and remove the garbage, while during the night the roads are free. Why not consider making that strategic shift to night-time collection? Let us do 85 percent of our collections at night,” he said.

Ellington also recommended prioritizing collections in residential and public commercial areas during night-time hours, minimizing competition with road users during peak traffic times.

The meeting, themed Operation RESET, focused on reviewing operations to ensure timely and efficient service delivery. Discussions covered the current state of operations and strategies for achieving the NSWMA’s goals.

Ellington urged senior managers to engage in brainstorming sessions to devise innovative, yet practical solutions for improved service delivery.

“I would love to see the kind of radical shifts in the way we are doing things which will result in meaningful changes and improvements so that the public can begin to reference the NSWMA as an agency that is improving, becoming more efficient, and delivering on its mandate,” he added.

The NSWMA is responsible for residential solid waste collection, commercial waste disposal, electronic waste disposal, and bulky waste collection, including mattresses, appliances, and construction materials.

The push for night-time collection marks a potential turning point as the authority seeks to enhance public perception and efficiency in fulfilling its mandate.