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'We saw a lot of alien things in Road Town'- City Manager

- Dept of Waste Management says it’s illegal to dump bulky waste in or near residential dumpsters
The Department of Waste Management urged residents that it is 'illegal' to dump bulky waste in or near residential dumpsters. Photo: VINO/File
Bulky waste and garbage in the ghuts can cause severe flooding. Photo: VINO/File
Bulky waste and garbage in the ghuts can cause severe flooding. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Communication and Works, announced that the Solid Waste Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has a campaign going on for collection of bulky waste. Photo: VINO
Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Communication and Works, announced that the Solid Waste Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has a campaign going on for collection of bulky waste. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- As the 2018 hurricane season approaches and is said to be a very active season, cleanup efforts of the ghuts and drains have been taking place throughout the different communities, especially in the high flood risk areas in Road Town.

It was on April 9, 2018, in a government press release, it was stated it is “illegal” to dump bulky waste in or near dumpsters.

According to the press release, “The public is reminded that according to the Litter Abatement Act, it is illegal to dump bulky waste including beds, refrigerators, and other furniture and construction materials in or near residential dumpsters.”

It explained further that the items can be swept away during the natural disaster such as floods or hurricane and cause blockage of free-flowing water to ghuts and drains.

Scheduled days for bulky waste drop off

It was during a press conference on May 2, 2018 at the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) conference room located at Simms Mini Mall, Jeremy W. Hodge, Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Communications and Works, announced that the Solid Waste Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has a campaign going on for collection of bulky waste.

He said, "I take this opportunity to pay attention to the campaign that is now going on through the Solid Waste Department, and the Ministry of Health on bulk waste materials that we tend to dump on the side of our trash containers. There will be certain days for bulky waste where it will be collected. So instead of throwing the debris on the side of the trash can any day, find out what day that the bulky waste will be collected in your area.”

Mr Hodge explained that when these bulky waste are left on the side of the dumpster, they tend to end up in the ghut, while noting that although he wants to see everybody rebuilding, his department wants to ensure that they are able to “control and contain” the bulky waste.

“We want everyone to rebuild but we want to be able to control and contain the bulky waste because we found mattresses, cars and all sort of things in the ghuts and they all showed themselves during the floods. Public Works is also working alongside Solid Waste to ensure that they have the resources that they need to assist in the efforts as we move forward and rebuild,” the deputy secretary.

“We saw a lot of alien things in the city of Road Town” - Janice Braithwaite-Edwards

Sharing the same sentiments, City Manager, Janice E.L. Braithwaite-Edwards, expressed that after the August floods, her department saw a lot of “alien” things in the city of Road Town during their cleanup.

She explained, “We saw a lot of alien things in the city of Road Town and we are still wondering where they came from. For instance, we met mattresses in town. Where would a mattress come from in the city of Road Town? You didn’t see it in the ghut but by the end of the floods they were in the city and some in the road.”

12 Responses to “'We saw a lot of alien things in Road Town'- City Manager”

  • You don’t know? (08/05/2018, 10:40) Like (40) Dislike (2) Reply
    We have a lot of nasty people who don’t give a rat’s a$$ living in our country. Question answered.
    • bystander (08/05/2018, 11:15) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Its better tipping by the dumpsters than fly tipping down a cliff, like is going on at Sabbath Hill tight now.
  • Diplomat (08/05/2018, 11:28) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    “we-saw-a-lot-of-alien-things-in-road-town-city-manager.” Lol! It is funny but attention getting. Incidentally, a mattress, appliances and other debris deposited in Road Town due a a major historic flood is not alien. A foot of rushing flood waters can knock a man off his feet, float vehicles, transport appliances, furniture, beds, thrash cans.......etc. These items can block drainage channels, resulting in flooding. Consequently, heavy brush, appliances, furniture........etc must be disposed of responsibly. Solid Waste should schedule heavy brush and debris collection by district. It set should set a set timeframe; residents setting out items outside of this time should be fined. Of course, residents can always take their junk to the landfill, presenting a utility bill.
  • fish (08/05/2018, 13:46) Like (13) Dislike (13) Reply
    Archibal was correct they came to the bvi with their bad habits
  • Jassy (08/05/2018, 14:27) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why didn't Mr. Hodge state the days for collection? It sure would have made sense to have that information organized before going to the public.
  • DISLIKE (08/05/2018, 14:41) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
    as much as you’ll like. I blame the NDP for this; they don’t like us, so they bring in all matter of sub-kind.
  • DISLIKE (08/05/2018, 15:13) Like (26) Dislike (10) Reply
    as much as you’ll like. I blame the NDP for this. They don’t like their own, so they bring in all manner of kind. Now look at the place: filthy, increase crime, disrespect everywhere, failing economy, declining financial sector, deteriorating tourism, as a consequence of poor leadership and BackBenchers with no guts to say- no more, and the list continues.
    • Pot amongst Kettle (08/05/2018, 16:48) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
      Quick to point fingers when it’s a lot of OUR Own who are the nasty Ones.
  • Solid Waste (08/05/2018, 15:23) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
    Scheduling a bulky waste collection day makes no sense.

    What is needed are dedicated areas in each district where 2 or 3 large, deep and brightly colored dumpsters are placed side by side. Some of these dumpsters you have to be careful not to fall into them . They will take fridges, stoves, galvanize, tree trunks, furniture, construction waste and you won't even know it. Solid waste can provide the dumpsters and just pay the truck men to empty and return the first full one before people start to throw stuff on the ground.

    Implement a small solid waste tax if you need to. Everybody has a bulky item they need to get rid of from time to time but they will not drive to Pockwood pond to get rid of it. They just won't do it. This stupidity of begging people not to dump bulky waste will simply not work. Provide the dumpster capacity in designated areas and monitor them daily. You will see a vast improvement. It is so simple.

    • Now, now (08/05/2018, 16:40) Like (16) Dislike (8) Reply
      @Solid Waste. Great solutions. This is the kind of leadership we can believe in. We need to put NDP on the bench until the next election and have a few like you and Mr Willock take over until then.
  • try dis nuh (08/05/2018, 21:34) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Charge someone caught in the act $5,000 for illegal dumping of bulky waste. Make examples of them. Then they goin breakdown that stove and fridge and mattress and couch into smaller pieces like Dwarves from lord of the rings. No body being made examples, of course ppl going continue do what they want.

    Giggity Giggity
    All Rights Reserved 2018
  • BS (09/05/2018, 09:39) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cameras aren't that expensive to buy or monitor.... Facts. I pay $60.00 for a camera which records, moves, has night time capabilities and I can monitor from any where in the world from my phone. If you really wanted to catch people dumping which would actually put a stop to the problem it would have been done.


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