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GARBAGE collection and disposal in East La Penitence, as in so many other communities in the city, is facing serious challenges, with literally no section being unaffected. But to the extent that it is now directly affecting the students of East Ruimveldt Secondary School throughout the school day, it is no longer only an eye sore, but poses a serious health threat that can affect the students’ physically and impact their academic achievement, as well as cognitive development. And what’s more, the volume of garbage awaiting removal seems to have, by far, outstripped what obtained at St. Barnabas on Regent Street for the last several months. That stockpile was removed a few days ago.
Residents of Avocado Place, East Ruimveldt yesterday told this newspaper that, for the last three months, the sanitation trucks have not removed garbage out of the area, resulting in huge garbage pile-ups, not only at the roadside, but in the compound of the East Ruimveldt Secondary School as well.
At the end of March, while proceeding on Easter holidays, the staff and students were forced to leave the garbage behind, and on returning to school in April, fresh from their vacation, they were greeted by the same putrid smells emanating from the same heaps and bins containing decaying garbage.
Residents have credited the school’s administration for trying their level best to contain the spread of litter in one corner of the compound, but they are still concerned. They are concerned about the overspilling bins at the entrance to the school building, garbage piled on a septic tank and more on a heap next to the fence, and the fact that when the wind blows, it is taking dust particles and the smell into their homes.
Further, they claim the situation took a turn for the worse when a set of non-biodegradable waste, including about 20 computer monitors and CPUs was dumped at the road side, east of their homes located across the road from the school.
That did not go down lightly with the residents who fear that someone (even an unsuspecting child) might eventually attempt to set fire to the heap and create a bigger problem in the area. Residents said that after the computers created such a high heap, some persons attempted smashing them, but they remain on the dump.
Experts have warned that computers and monitors contain toxic levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and beryllium, which are very unfriendly substances to the environment.
Irate residents have expressed concern, stating that they pay rates and taxes and should not be subjected to this kind of treatment. Moreover, they resent the fact that it has reached the stage where their children have to compete with garbage for space in the school compound, and further, that the overspilling bins are the first things with which they are faced on arriving at school.
“That situation is unhealthy and definitely not conducive to good learning. Our children have to breathe in all that smell for the entire day. Now that the sun is hot and the place windy, particles from the garbage is in their hair, face, nose and even teeth. What is the Council waiting for, an outbreak of some disease?” they asked.
Meanwhile, residents on the other side of the road, at least one of whom is pregnant, is very concerned about the development, claiming that the constant exposure to garbage and germs is neither good for her nor her unborn child.
Efforts by this newspaper to reach City Hall Cleansing Department for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful. And the Public Relations Officer was not available.
Residents of Avocado Place, East Ruimveldt yesterday told this newspaper that, for the last three months, the sanitation trucks have not removed garbage out of the area, resulting in huge garbage pile-ups, not only at the roadside, but in the compound of the East Ruimveldt Secondary School as well.
At the end of March, while proceeding on Easter holidays, the staff and students were forced to leave the garbage behind, and on returning to school in April, fresh from their vacation, they were greeted by the same putrid smells emanating from the same heaps and bins containing decaying garbage.
Residents have credited the school’s administration for trying their level best to contain the spread of litter in one corner of the compound, but they are still concerned. They are concerned about the overspilling bins at the entrance to the school building, garbage piled on a septic tank and more on a heap next to the fence, and the fact that when the wind blows, it is taking dust particles and the smell into their homes.
Further, they claim the situation took a turn for the worse when a set of non-biodegradable waste, including about 20 computer monitors and CPUs was dumped at the road side, east of their homes located across the road from the school.
That did not go down lightly with the residents who fear that someone (even an unsuspecting child) might eventually attempt to set fire to the heap and create a bigger problem in the area. Residents said that after the computers created such a high heap, some persons attempted smashing them, but they remain on the dump.
Experts have warned that computers and monitors contain toxic levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and beryllium, which are very unfriendly substances to the environment.
Irate residents have expressed concern, stating that they pay rates and taxes and should not be subjected to this kind of treatment. Moreover, they resent the fact that it has reached the stage where their children have to compete with garbage for space in the school compound, and further, that the overspilling bins are the first things with which they are faced on arriving at school.
“That situation is unhealthy and definitely not conducive to good learning. Our children have to breathe in all that smell for the entire day. Now that the sun is hot and the place windy, particles from the garbage is in their hair, face, nose and even teeth. What is the Council waiting for, an outbreak of some disease?” they asked.
Meanwhile, residents on the other side of the road, at least one of whom is pregnant, is very concerned about the development, claiming that the constant exposure to garbage and germs is neither good for her nor her unborn child.
Efforts by this newspaper to reach City Hall Cleansing Department for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful. And the Public Relations Officer was not available.
