Dear Editor,
The capital city of Guyana is a vibrant and diverse urban center, however, like many cities around the world, Georgetown faces a pressing issue: its management of garbage and waste. Waste poses environmental, health, and aesthetic challenges that needs urgent attention. This letter delves into the garbage situation in Georgetown, its causes, impacts, and potential sustainable solutions.
Georgetown’s garbage situation is caused by a shortage, or lack of, roadside bins, littered streets, and an inadequate waste management infrastructure due to insufficient finances including budgetary planning and implementation to raise finance. The level of cooperation between the city council and central government over the years, especially when it comes to raising taxes on properties or having a share in the 10% tax that the government collects on plastic items, or a percentage share of VAT collected in the city, or for the council to license all businesses in the city and pay the VAT to the state, prevents the city government from earning much needed finance to properly manage the city.
Better disposal systems for garbage accumulated in commercial zones, coupled with every day public awareness campaigns, to let the people understand the legal consequences for dumping garbage illegally; enforcing that law through the establishment of the city court can help in having the city in a better condition. Increases in littering and illegal disposal of plastic waste, in particular, is a threat to the city’s aquatic ecosystems especially when plastic finds its way into drains and canals. The environmental consequences is significant. Improper waste management can lead to blocking of drainage systems, contributing to flooding during rainfall. The accumulation of plastic waste not only disturbs the aesthetic appeal of the city but also poses a serious health threat.
I traversed North Road, in Georgetown on 30/8/2023, and saw the filthy condition of the drainage, the stagnant water and the amount of garbage in the drain. I could not believe my eyes because that drain used to be clean in the 1970s and ‘80s. Then people fished on a weekend and even swam during rainfall. I asked myself why the Church Street and North Road canal could not be as clean as before. Addressing the garbage situation in Georgetown requires a multisectoral approach combining the business community, citizens, city government, and central government and political behavioural change. Some potential sustainable solutions are:
Invest in modern infrastructure improvement for the waste management facilities, including recycling centers and waste-to-energy plants, to reduce the volume of waste going to landfills; Promote waste separation at source to encourage recycling, establish recycling collection points, and educate residents on the importance of recycling; Launch extensive public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about proper waste disposal, the impact of littering, and the benefits of recycling; Enforce stricter regulations on waste management practices, including high fines for littering and illegal dumping, to discourage such behaviours; Colla-borate with local communities to organize clean-up initiatives, tree-planting campaigns, and workshops on waste reduction and management, and, implement bans or taxes on single-use plastics to reduce plastic waste generation and promote the use of reusable alternatives.
The garbage situation in Georgetown is a pressing issue that demands immediate action from the City Council and Central Government for finance and from citizens alike. Adopting sustainable solutions and fostering a culture of responsible waste management through collective efforts with city residents can restore George-town as a cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally conscious city paving the way for a brighter and greener future for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Michael Carrington
Former MP
