THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has said it is concerned with the level of indiscipline observed in regard to maintenance of drains in the city and the manner in which alleyways have been compromised.The M&CC recently commenced cleaning and desilting of alleyway drains in the Lacytown and Bourda areas, and although those areas are considered prime business areas, the City employees working there were tasked with removing old bed frames, fridges, mattresses and other bulk waste from the alleyway drains.

“This act of indiscriminate dumping could not be condoned, since the Council provides a daily collection service in these areas. Also, alleyways are one of the Council’s main thoroughfares, and their integrity must be preserved.

“It is a contravention of the by-laws to deposit waste in alleyways and other municipal thoroughfares. Municipal and District Council Act 28:01 states that every person who shall foul any alleyway by throwing therein any filth, carcass, or other offensive matter or thing, or shall permit any water from the yard surface or house roof to flow into any alleyway, shall be guilty of an offence against these by-laws,” the M&CC has said.

The council is imploring persons not to use the alleyways to dispose of either solid or liquid waste. The council has said it will take serious action against persons who use the alleyways to deposit waste.

“The council is seeking the co-operation of the supermarkets and other food establishments to reduce the use of Styrofoam boxes, and to support the use of materials that are biodegradable.

“The use of Styrofoam is a major health and environmental concern for the Mayor and City Council. The foremost problem with Styrofoam is that it is made from polystyrene, a chemical that contains the substances styrene and benzene, which are considered neurotoxins and carcinogens and are extremely hazardous to human health. Also, Styrofoam boxes that enter the watercourses contribute to flooding, and have damaged our pumps and other equipment used to drain water from the land,” the M&CC has said.