In response to a mounting crisis of illegal dumping that has severely hampered national cleanup efforts, the Antigua and Barbuda Solid Waste Management Authority is undertaking a major operational restructuring. Cabinet officials confirmed on Thursday that the country’s bulk waste collection zones will be completely rezoned to address systemic inefficiencies.
Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications, detailed the challenges faced by cleanup crews, who are encountering rapidly re-accumulating waste piles in areas cleared merely days prior. This cycle of rapid recontamination has rendered the existing zoning framework ineffective, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul of operational protocols and geographical assignments for waste management teams.
The rezoning initiative will be implemented alongside an expansion of roadside cleaning operations, particularly crucial after recent heavy rainfall triggered substantial overgrowth along roadways, drainage systems, and public areas. Merchant confirmed that additional personnel are already being contracted to manage the increased workload resulting from both the rezoning and vegetation management demands.
Concurrently, a newly implemented fee structure for derelict vehicle removal is showing positive results. The $150 service charge has gained increasing resident participation, with growing numbers requesting the removal of abandoned automobiles from roadsides and vacant properties. Dedicated teams are now operating throughout daylight hours to transport these vehicles to appropriate landfill facilities.
These operational adjustments occur within the broader context of the government’s ongoing national beautification and waste-control campaign, which aims to mitigate public health hazards, enhance sanitary conditions, and rehabilitate communal spaces. Merchant reaffirmed the Cabinet’s commitment to bolstering the operational capabilities of the Solid Waste Authority, expressing confidence that the strategic rezoning will significantly improve operational efficiency as the national initiative progresses.