MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Regional operations manager for Southern Parks and Markets (SPM) Waste Management Limited Edward Muir says an increase in solid waste generation is expected in the region with the boom in residential construction now underway.

“Looking at the population, we are seeing a significant increase, in terms of the population in Clarendon, in particular. As it relates to Manchester, we expect that the population, with the new highway, will increase,” said Muir during a function at the Cecil Charlton Park in Mandeville on Tuesday.

SPM, which is a subsidiary of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), is responsible for solid waste management in Clarendon, Manchester, and St Elizabeth.

Muir said multiple garbage trucks now have to be deployed to some communities based on the increase in solid waste.

“You have areas like Longville Park [in Clarendon], where, every Sunday, we have to ensure that we send no less than four units to clean there and in the Williamsfield [Manchester] area. Most of those developing areas, we are seeing a significant increase as it relates to construction. We are bracing [and] putting in the necessary plans in place, and we expect that we will be in a better position to execute our duties,” added Muir.

He pointed out that the SPM now has 30 trucks in its fleet, with 19 being operational.

“We have implemented some night operations, primarily in town centres, particularly Santa Cruz, Mandeville, May Pen, Black River, Junction, Christiana, and Spalding. It gives us more space in the days to serve more residential areas,” added Muir.

In the meantime, Mayor of Mandeville and chairman of the Manchester Municipal Corporation Donovan Mitchell said it has seen an increase in applications for building permits.

“So one of the things we plan to do is to meet with SPM and other agencies to say this is what we see happening and the particular areas where we see people are applying to have permits,” said Mitchell.

“I know within that Williamsfield area, for example, because of the new highway, I have heard people asking questions about certain types of building, [including] apartment complexes. It is the opportune time now for us to meet with these people.

“You need to start looking at expanding your garbage collection, getting in some more trucks [and] talking with the citizens. We are working assiduously to make sure that when the highway is finished that all of these problems can be taken care of so that people don’t say, ‘Boy, I built my house and my garbage is not being collected,’ ” added Mitchell.