NSWMA making progress in reducing smoke from Riverton City dump

By Kimone Witter 

   

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says significant progress has been made in reducing the smoke nuisance from Tuesday's fire the Riverton City disposal site in St. Andrew.

 

The smoke blanketed large sections of the Corporate Area and St. Catherine on Wednesday, affecting visibility and air quality.

 

NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon is hoping that the air quality will improve later on Thursday. 

 

"Today is far better than yesterday.... We worked deep into last night. The men had to take a break...and they are back out this morning from 6 o'clock. They are backing it and we will complete the covering of the areas today," he said.

 

Mr. Gordon said the cause of the fire has still not been identified, but with the country experiencing drought conditions, he suggested it may have resulted from a bushfire. 

 

In the meantime, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, has questioned whether a long term study has been commissioned on the impact fires at the Riverton City facility have had on residents living in close proximity.

 

"I saw where the head of NSWMA said...the smoke in the community...was not as bad as it looked. It's not about the look. What is contained in that smoke? What kind of chemicals are contained in that smoke? And what kind of impact is it having on people's health? So those are some of the things that we need to be talking about. And it's not just about asthma. When you get long-term exposure to some of these things, it can cause long term health impacts. And these are the things that we need to be talking more about and examining more," she insisted.  

 

Mrs. Rodriquez-Moodie also criticised the National Environment and Planning Agency for its monitoring of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, noting the lack of sanctions against it. 

 

"Are they being fined? I don't even know if the permit is up to date. You know, are we monitoring them properly? Are we being proactive? I think yesterday I spoke about being proactive, because if we just wait for things to happen, and then we, you know, slap on the wrist, or we fine, or whatever, it will continue to happen," she complained.   

 

The JET chief was speaking Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.

 

The NSWMA has been previously served with enforcement notices and notices of intention to suspend its environmental permits after fires at the Riverton City disposal site.