Littering a problem for everyone

Manager of the Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) Winsbert Quow is of the view that while littering may not have caused the recent flooding, it contributed to the blockage of drains, which resulted in mass debris being dumped on the streets.{{more}}

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Monday, Quow said over the years, the SWMU has warned Vincentians about the dangers of littering.

“People do not understand what you are trying to tell them until something like this happens.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited areas affected by the flooding caused by torrential rains on Christmas Eve, discarded household appliances and other items of solid waste were among the debris that had settled on the streets and shores in various parts of the country.

According to Quow, many persons take up residence along riverside and use that avenue to dispose of their garbage.

“We are trying to get people to desist from this practice. A lot of these people still use the river to dump their unwanted appliances,” Quow stated.

He stated that in February and September 2013, the SWMU put on a white goods service in which they encouraged persons to desist from dumping appliances, but instead bring them to the SWMU.

“There are still a lot of people who are not using these services. And when we have these kinds of events, we see the fruits of that type of activity.”

While some persons may not dump their garbage directly into the rivers, Quow said dumping in the bushes can still cause as much damage.

“We want to appeal to the public to learn from this and desist from this practice,” Quow told SEARCHLIGHT.

It is Quow’s hope that when the SWMU speaks on matters relating to litter and the environment, persons will see that there is a real connection to events that might affect us in the long run.(KW)