GOVERNMENT on Wednesday unveiled an updated Draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy indicating that the solid waste continues to be a risk to the country.

The strategy has three main components, namely: sustainable waste reduction and management strategy; operational standard procedures and background information, as well as analysis of Guyana’s solid waste sector.

The objectives of the strategy are: a cleaner environment, better public health protection and enhanced economic opportunities. At the same time, some of the goals include a cessation in littering and illegal dumping, increasing the numbers of stiff penalties and identifying and monitoring dumping hot spots among others.

Consultant, Samuel Wright, said the idea is to equip all regions with draft solid waste management plans before the end of the year. Wright explained that the Integration Solid Waste Management Strategy was to be implemented after the enactment of the solid waste management draft bill, which was developed in 2014 but was not approved by Cabinet. “There is a space between Cabinet’s decision and the Ministry’s response, which would come after consultations. But solid waste management is crucial and must be addressed now… we do have a 2017 – 2030 solid waste management strategy under the theme “Putting waste in its place” in Guyana, but there is progressive implementation of the strategy. “

Wright said there was need for these consultations and urged all stakeholders to participate. Head of the Sanitation Management Unit, at the Ministry of Communities, Gordon Gilkes said improper solid waste management is detrimental to human health and the environment. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to improve this policy which is relevant to crucial development priorities.

Gilkes said that poor waste handling, together with uncontrolled waste dumping can pollute water, attract rodents and insects, increase greenhouse gas and increase floods due to blocked drains. “The strategy proposes an integrated approach to addressing the solid waste management crisis countywide. It is intended as a call to action and provides a road map for the institutional support, regulatory framework, appropriate technologies community awareness and involvement, financing, management indicators etcetera. That will aid in the integration of a sustainable waste management system towards a circular economy,” Gilkes explained.