Jamaica Bedding and Ojay Koolerswill be donating 2,000 plastic drums to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), to assist in their cleaning-up efforts in the Spanish Town, Old Harbour and May Pen areas.

The drums will be handed over to the NSWMA at a ceremony, to be held at 29 East Street,Old Harbour,St. Catherine, on Thursday, December 20,starting at 10:00 a.m.

Community Relations Manager at the NSWMA, Shauna Guthrie, said the initiative is to get persons to containerise their solid waste, in an attempt to lessen littering in public places.

“The NSWMA is challenged on a daily basis with cleaning major thoroughfares, and our biggest issue is persons not containerising their waste. We hope with the distribution of these drums, persons will be motivated to dispose of their solid waste in the receptacles provided,” she urged.

Mrs. Guthrie emphasised that keeping Jamaica clean should be everyone’s business if, as a nation, “we are to achieve the goals outlined in the Country’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030, which is to make Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business.”

“We want persons to get into the habit of using the bins, because keeping Jamaica clean is a fifty-fifty thing, which means that each person is responsible for managing their solid waste,” she said.

Mrs. Guthrie noted that the drums will improve efficiency, in terms of cleaning the towns.

“Our turnaround times will definitely be reduced, when we go into the various towns for cleaning purposes. The placement of the bins will guarantee easier access for us to empty solid waste into our available units,” she informed.

Mrs. Guthrie is urging the public to use the bins that will be provided, so that the towns will be kept clean at all times.  

“We are appealing to persons to stop littering their surroundings, because it makes our streets and towns look untidy,” she said.