ACTING Chairman of the Lusignan/La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Mr. Ayube Mohammed has indicated that staff and members of the NDC will soon be conducting outreaches in an effort to raise awareness about ‘tipping fees’ for garbage collection.

In a telephone interview yesterday, he explained that all the refuse in Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) is now being sent to the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
As a result of this, a new process will be introduced to the residents, Mohammed disclosed.
He said garbage being dumped at the site costs $2,000 per tonne because private contractors are involved.
According to Mohammed, the outreach visits will be made to areas which the NDC covers, including Annandale, Good Hope, Lusignan and Mon Repos, all on the East Coast of Demerara.
He said the ventures would help residents to understand the importance of the NDC asking for $500 a fortnight towards the garbage collection.
Mohammed said the money will assist in paying for the use of the Haags Bosch facility on a regular basis and make work easier for the NDC councillors and workers, in terms of their financial situation.

NEW PROPOSAL
He said the idea has already been proposed and, while some residents are willing to accept the new proposal, many are refusing to pay as they are uncomfortable with the payment of additional money.
Mohammed is of the opinion that this is a small charge to accumulate the $1,000 per month for a cleaner environment.
He said the dumpsite being presently used in the Lusignan area will be closed in September and he is hoping that all the residents would agree to the new proposition within a short period of time.
Through the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Programme, Guyana is laying the groundwork for closing an outdated and inefficient disposal site in the centre of the Georgetown capital and replacing it with a new privately-operated sanitary landfill that will serve both the city and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) financed scheme also caters for the preparation of a master plan to manage waste, as well as training within  public and private entities that operate in the sector.
The project is being financed through a US$18M IDB loan, granted in 2006, from its Fund for Special Operations.
In 2010, the IDB Board of Directors approved an additional US$2M supplementary funding for the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Programme, to cover the cost project overruns.