THE two major solid waste companies, Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc. are back on board after they had threatened to pull their services had the City Council not make any payments on their outstanding amounts.

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan told the Chronicle that following a meeting with the garbage contractors, it was agreed that the council would make a partial payment.

Solid Waste Management Director Walter Narine, in an invited comment yesterday, assured that both companies will be rendering their services throughout the Christmas season. He observed that during the holiday period, more waste than usual is generated.

City Hall had decided to rehire Puran Brothers to help the municipality with its garbage collection in Georgetown’s central business district after initially saying that the council was equipped with its own staff and trucks to collect garbage on its own. The two garbage companies which operate in Groups 7, 8 and 10, were subsequently suspended.

The municipality had said it was trying to save cost this way, but Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said she felt it necessary to re-hire the private contractors because she was not satisfied with what was happening in the City as it relates to the garbage collection.

City Hall has subsequently recruited once again the services of Puran’s to help clear the business district. The company will clear once a day, and City Hall’s trucks will clear the other time. Hence the business community will again benefit from the two-time collection that was previously being enjoyed.

Town Clerk, Royston King had told the Guyana Chronicle that he was optimistic that there would be a different cost for the collection of commercial waste during 2017. He noted that it was unfair for businesses to be paying the same amount as residents.