The Georgetown City Council is to launch a public awareness and enforcement campaign on December 3 to deal with the worrying problem of accumulation of refuse in different sections of the city.

The Mayor and City Council said in a press release that it will be targeting a community in the southern part of the city, and defaulters will be prosecuted.

The council noted that the problem is prevalent even in areas where the Solid Waste Management Department has placed receptacles for the convenience of citizens, including King Street and certain sections of Robb Street.

And according to a report from the Public Health Department there are still too many householders without refuse receptacles, and so some citizens indulge in dumping onto the parapets and roadsides. The council pointed out that a large amount of such litter ended up in the drains, thereby restricting the flow of water and contributing to flooding in various areas. Meanwhile, the council is calling on all citizens to ensure that they have an appropriate receptacle on their premises to take care of waste in an environmentally friendly manner. The law, the release stated, is quite clear that such receptacles must be provided by the occupier of every premises.

Such a receptacle should be moveable and made of material prescribed by the council. In addition, it should also have a capacity not exceeding three cubic feet in the case of dwelling houses, and for business premises and hotels, 12 cubic feet.

Under this same law, the release added, every receptacle should be provided with a well-fitting cover made of material prescribed by the council and must be kept covered at all times.