Department of Waste Management Relaunches House-to-House Garbage Collection Pilot Programme

The Department of Waste Management in the British Virgin Islands is set to relaunch its house-to-house garbage collection programme, in an effort to enhance waste management and environmental cleanliness.

This initiative will run from 3rd June to 30th September, covering select areas of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke.

Director Marcus Solomon outlined the objectives and scope of the pilot programme, emphasising its importance for future waste management strategies. “The information that we will be collecting through this pilot programme will help to inform garbage collection strategies for the next three to four years,” Solomon said. “We aim to reduce the reliance on public bins, which can be seen as unsightly and a public health concern.”

Residents in the designated pilot areas are requested to participate by placing their garbage in bins and setting them out for collection on scheduled days and times. To ensure comprehensive participation, community dumpsters in these areas will be removed. “We have also labelled every community dumpster on Tortola, and the dumpsters in the pilot area will be removed because we want full participation,” Solomon explained.

The potential expansion and longevity of the programme will be determined by the results of this pilot phase. Reflecting on a similar initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, Solomon noted, “We tried it during COVID-19 and received positive feedback. We want to see if this type of collection programme can be sustainable.”

Solomon urged residents in the pilot communities to fully engage with the programme, reinforcing the government’s commitment to environmental stewardship. “We are asking the pilot communities for their full participation as we continue to progress towards a cleaner, greener British Virgin Islands,” he stated.

As the pilot programme progresses, the Department of Waste Management will be closely monitoring its effectiveness and gathering data to refine and potentially expand the initiative, aiming for a significant improvement in the territory’s waste management practices.