$5m partnership brings 33 new garbage receptacles to Ocho Rios

A $5-million solid waste management initiative is now being implemented in Ocho Rios, St Ann with the installation of 33 garbage receptacles across key areas of the town, aimed at improving cleanliness, environmental management, and the overall visitor experience.

The project is the result of a strategic partnership between the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) and the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC), with technical and operational support from NEPM Waste Management Limited and fabrication and installation services provided by HEART/NSTA Trust.

Implemented under TPDCo’s Environmental Sustainability Initiative (ESI), the project responded to concerns regarding littering, inadequate waste disposal options, and the improper use of existing bins for bulky and commercial waste within the town centre. The newly designed receptacles restrict the disposal of inappropriate items while allowing for more efficient collection by sanitation crews.

The receptacles were installed along major thoroughfares including Main Street, Milford Road, Graham Street, Clock Tower Park, DaCosta Drive, Market Street, Evelyn Street, Newlin Street, and Mansfield Way, all high-traffic pedestrian areas frequented by residents, workers, and visitors.

Executive director of TPDCo, Wade Mars, underscored the significance of the initiative, particularly for Ocho Rios.

“Ocho Rios remains one of Jamaica’s most visited destinations, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Maintaining a clean, orderly and visually appealing environment is therefore not optional; it is essential. This project demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investment, supported by strong partnerships, can directly enhance the visitor experience while improving quality of life for residents and workers at the destination,” Mars said.

He added that the initiative reflects TPDCo’s continued commitment to sustainable destination management and practical interventions that protect Jamaica’s tourism product.

Jennifer Brown Cunningham, chief executive officer of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, noted that the project aligns with the corporation’s efforts to strengthen urban management, encourage responsible waste disposal, and promote civic pride within the town centre.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

“Going forward, strategic partnership with the St Ann Health Department and the National Solid Waste Management Authority will support public education efforts and ensure the long-term maintenance of the receptacles.” Brown Cunningham underscored.

The project commenced on September 29, 2025, and was completed on January 14, 2026, with all receptacles installed on January 13 and 14, 2026, under TPDCo’s supervision.

Commenting on NEPM’s involvement, Daniel Heaven, regional operations manager, NEPM Waste Management Limited, stated, “NEPM Waste Management Limited welcomes the completion of the Ocho Rios Garbage Receptacle Project, an initiative we have long advocated for to address travel litter, as members of the public have consistently cited the lack of convenient disposal options whilst in transit.

“NEPM will ensure timely collection from these bins as well as intensify our public education efforts to advise that they are intended for small travel litter not for construction, commercial or bulky waste. We also urge the public to hold their waste when receptacles are full and use the next available sustainable disposal point.”

Highlighting the role of skills development in national progress, Dr Taneisha Ingleton, managing director, HEART/NSTA Trust, shared, “This project illustrates how skills training can be meaningfully applied to national development. HEART/NSTA Trust trainees and the staff of our training-based enterprise, NTEC, were directly involved in the fabrication, transportation, and installation of all 33 receptacles. Through our Triple Access Strategy, we continue to equip Jamaicans with skills while contributing to infrastructure that supports tourism, public health, and community resilience.”

Under the arrangement, NEPM Waste Management Limited will manage routine waste collection and bag replacement, while the St Ann Municipal Corporation will oversee public education, enforcement, and general upkeep to support the long-term sustainability of the initiative.