SSA off on Christmas Day, New Year’s

There will be no garbage collection today, Christmas Day or on New Year’s Day by the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

The agency is also appealing to residents to remember the SSA when socialising over the Yuletide season and to park their vehicles to accommodate the trucks on the usual collection days.

Public relation officer of the SSA, Carl Padmore, said that while it is a person’s right to socialise, “We still would want them to be conscious that we want the free flow of SSA vehicles so that we can have the garbage picked up”.

He said the challenge was mainly in the St Michael and Christ Church areas.

“We’ve had occasion to get the police involved because of persons who are setting down their vehicles at T-junctions and at the top of gaps so then the SSA can’t manoeuvre through those gaps,” Padmore explained.

In addition, he said that while it is not unusual to see an increase in waste around this festive time, Barbadians also had a responsibility to keep the country clean. He pleaded with them to pay heed to the Government’s solid waste programme for the notification as to when the crew was visiting particular areas.

He said there are some that for the year have had more than one collection but as it happens in December, householders were still discarding items next to the road that can be reused, restored or even recycled.

“As we go into 2026, we really are making an appeal that we practice those other arms of solid waste management and those are key arms. Restoration can still happen and save a lot of items from going into the waste. Recycling can still happen as well. This is our country and we need to keep it clean. It’s an all-country effort,” he said.

Padmore was also concerned about residents still placing animal waste or faeces out for collection as the SSA has been seeing an increase in the practice.

“Persons are now resorting to placing animal waste in the household bins and it’s really causing a health hazard for the SSA crew,” he said.

In addition, he said there was a noticeable increase in the bulk waste in and around Bridgetown and he reminded store owners again to collapse the boxes.

“We are not seeing much improvement in that area at all. We are aware that the Barbados Fire Service and the Ministry of Health reminded them over and over about their responsibility in assisting with keeping Barbados clean, because there are a number of activities happening in communities, house parties and different things,” he said.

Padmore also warned store owners about vehicles obstructing the collection and the free flow of the truck.

There should be, Padmore said, no coconut oil or grease left on pavements by restaurant operators. It is their responsibility to seek the services of providers in those areas to deal with oil and grease. (AC)

The post SSA off on Christmas Day, New Year’s appeared first on nationnews.com.