THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development yesterday donated 825 garbage containers to the 15 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Region 4 (Demerara – Mahaica) and City Hall in an effort to improve their garbage collection services.

These waste bins were procured from an English company Unit Exports at a cost of $38M, Minister within the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker said at the handing over of the bins at the ministry’s compound at Kingston, Georgetown.
He added that the NDCs have the responsibility to get people to use these garbage containers while ensuring that they are kept secured.
Whittaker observed that the waste bins vary in size and some municipalities would be entitled to more bins than others, but that does not indicate that the ministry favours any NDC more than another. He reiterated that it is very necessary that the NDCs monitor the use of these bins and ensure that they are not misused in anyway.
Whittaker also pointed out that these garbage containers are intended to be part of a massive solid waste public awareness programme.
Whittaker explained that of the 825 bins, 458 will be handed over to the NDCs directly and the remaining 367 will be placed at public institutions such as schools, health centres and markets.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Collin Croal explained that four compactor trucks will be procured at a cost of $124M to service the NDCs until they acquire private contractors to collect their waste.
He added that the compactors will be used to lift these bins in an efficient and modernised way.
Director of Solid Waste in the region, Gordon Gilkes also urged that these bins be put to proper use so as to ensure that the NDCs control their solid waste.