NSWMA official defends security at Retirement landfill

WESTERN BUREAU:

Edward Muir, the regional operations manager for the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s (NSWMA) Western Parks and Markets Waste Management Limited, is offering assurances that security protocols at St James’ Retirement landfill to prevent the intrusion of scavengers.

Muir’s response comes in the wake of an allegation made by Michael Troupe, the councillor for the Granville division, who told last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation that he had received reports that meat dumped at the landfill was getting back into the market via unscrupulous people, who would go there and retrieve it.

“To my knowledge, we have 24-hour security on the disposal site, and I am not aware of any such activity where food has been removed from the landfill. We have 24-hour security there, and that is in place to ensure that no such things happen on our disposal site,” said Muir.

“Our disposal facility is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Our protocols are in place, and no protocol has been changed, none whatsoever,” added Muir.

According to Troupe, he had received reports suggesting that meat taken to the landfill had not been buried in accordance with the NSWMA’s guidelines for handling spoiled or condemned food, but was instead left out in the open, from where his report suggested it was retrieved.

At that time, the meeting’s attendees were assured that the St James Health Department, which had not previously been informed of the allegations, would carry out investigations into the accuracy of the reports. It was also outlined that, in keeping with the NSWMA’s protocols, rejected meat is sprayed with chemicals before being buried in a specified area at the landfill.

Muir nonetheless acknowledged that there have been previous rumours about meat being removed from the Retirement landfill to be put back on the market. However, he insisted that there have never been any confirmed reports of such activity.

“It has been rumoured before, but we ensure, for the safety of our citizens, that that does not happen as it relates to meat being removed from the landfill. I hear the concerns, but I want to reassure residents in the western part of the island that such protocols are in place to ensure that this does not happen,” said Muir.

Allegations of dumped meat being retrieved by unscrupulous people and sold to unsuspecting customers date back to 2015, when reports surfaced that vendors in Kingston were collecting rejected meat from the Riverton City disposal site and selling it for as little as $110 per pound.

Under the Food and Drugs Act, it is an offence to sell food deemed unfit for human consumption. Offenders who are found guilty may be fined up to $1 million or spend 12 months in prison.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com