By Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter

THE NATIONAL Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA) yesterday announced a new strategy to expedite the removal of hurricane-related debris from public and private areas in the face of increased burning by residents.

Several residents from across the island who have become increasingly frustrated with waiting on the NSWMA to collect rotting piles of debris from their premises have opted for a more immediate solution: burning them on the spot.

This has prompted concern from both the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and telecommunication service provider Cable and Wireless.

CLEAN-UP PROCESS

According to the NSWMA's new strategy to expedite the clean-up process, St. Catherine, St. Thomas and Clarendon will have their own dedicated clean-up teams concentrating on the affected areas within each parish. This is in addition to regular house-to-house collection. The northern and southern belts of Kingston and St. Andrew will have two fully equipped teams, deployed to clear outstanding debris. This, the agency said, will allow for concurrent cleaning activities within the waste shed.

The JET, in a recent statement, expressed concern about the "unregulated and uncontrolled burning" that has been occurring throughout the island.