Jamaica’s National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is intensifying its monumental effort to clear approximately 450,000 truckloads of debris remaining from Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage in October 2025. Executive Director Audley Gordon has confirmed the removal of 27,000 loads since deploying ten additional tipper trucks three weeks ago, acknowledging the scale of the challenge while assuring citizens of accelerating progress.
The agency has established a specialized Debris Management Unit comprising redirected managers and staff exclusively dedicated to hurricane cleanup operations. This temporary organizational structure aims to maintain efficiency in regular garbage collection while addressing the extraordinary post-disaster requirements. Gordon emphasized that the new trucks, though beneficial, represent only one component of a comprehensive strategy that includes contracting private heavy machinery operators with backhoes and front-end loaders.
Financial backing for the cleanup has been substantial, with the government allocating approximately $1.5 billion specifically for debris management since the Category 5 storm struck. Additional resources include a forthcoming commitment of ten more tipper trucks to bolster operational capacity.
Gordon has appealed for public patience, recognizing that visible progress may vary across communities. He pledged continuous day-and-night operations and committed to quarterly briefings to maintain transparency regarding cleanup timelines and achievements. The NSWMA emphasizes that partnership with private contractors remains essential to completing the task within a reasonable timeframe, as relying solely on agency resources would extend cleanup operations for years.