Persons urged to stop throwing garbage from vehicles

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is urging motorists and passengers to stop throwing litter from vehicles.

Community Relations Manager at the NSWMA, Sharnon Williams, has advised persons to keep a litter bag inside their vehicle to store waste until a proper disposal receptacle is available.

"From time to time, we may have a snack on the road. While we're travelling, we may be hungry, and we want to eat ... sometimes there may not be a readily available bin, but we want to encourage Jamaicans [to] keep that waste until they find a bin," Williams said.

She noted that improper disposal of garbage, even small items, can have serious environmental consequences, including increased flooding, especially as the country approaches the hurricane season.

"When you litter, the waste will clog the drains and it will cause flooding," she pointed out.

"It is very important for people to understand that one plastic bottle, one bag of banana chips, they all accumulate, and can be devastating to our lives and to our property," she added.

Williams stressed that every citizen has a role to play in protecting the environment, pointing out that simple actions such as holding on to waste and discouraging others from littering can help to keep communities safer and cleaner.