2016 Clean Up the World campaign: 178 tonnes of waste collected during weekend |19 September 2016

At around midday yesterday a total of 178 tonnes of waste had been collected in  the Clean Up the World campaign which started on Friday and went on during the whole weekend.

According to the Land Waste Management Agency (LWMA) the rubbish collected consists mainly of scrap metal and old appliances like refrigerators, freezers, cookers, washing machines, television sets and so on.  Dirty waste such as old beds and mattresses are also part of the lot.

The largest quantity of waste – 110 tonnes – was collected on Saturday while by Friday evening only 13 tonnes had reached the Providence landfill. The other 55 tonnes crossed the weighing machine before noon yesterday, when collection stopped for the weekend.

LWMA waste management consultant Lemmy Payet said despite the quantity collected is more or less the same as last year, the figures will rise as people are still depositing garbage by the road sides. Only by the middle of the week when collection is completed will the agency be in a position to communicate the right numbers.

Driving around the islands during the last three days, one would have been of the impression that the amount of waste taken from homes around the country had dropped this year. This is because not much was visible, mostly at bin sites.

Mr Payet explained that this was due to quick and systematic collection as the unwanted items were deposited.