Driver shortage impacting garbage collection in Old Harbour region

That’s according to Oretha McFarlane, operations director at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

McFarlane was responding to several issues related to waste management at an October 8, 2025 town hall meeting organizing by the South St Catherine Chamber of Commerce held at the Old Harbour High School auditorium. Chief among them, was the collection of garbage at seven o’clock in the morning in the town centre, a notable rush hour period for motorists heading to work.

“The fact of the matter is that persons do not take pride in the proper disposal of their waste,” McFarlane stated. “We are looking at plans to have the garbage collected at nights, but another issue is that we do not have enough truck drivers available. So, if you know anybody out there seeking a job in this area let them know that the NSWMA need truck drivers.”

Garbage collection has been a historical issue in Jamaica with past and present government failing to miserably to cauterize the problem. The lack of strategically placed bins throughout our town centres and the public’s habit of disposing garbage on the streets add to a crisis with seemingly no end in sight. 

McFarlane, who was among a panel of state officials at the gathering, also noted its current record shows only 25 businesses operating in the Old Harbour space demonstrated proof of having an existing contract with a waste management company. 

This startling revelation explains to some extent why so many garbage lined the roadside in the town centre particularly in the evenings each day. 

In recent years, the local chamber of commerce, representing some 30 members, has been playing a lead role to resolve the garbage situation in Old Harbour by planting bins throughout the town. However, while these bins have proven to be effective, their full utilization is not being maximize. 

For its Labour Day project this year, the influential business group, formerly known as the Old Harbour Chamber of Commerce, implemented approximately 15 concrete bins at various strategic points. For the last eight weeks, however, the bins have been observed lying on the ground, rendering their purpose useless. 

Reacting to the issue of the drums put in place by the chamber of commerce, McFarlane said an effective strategy needs to be developed to accommodate the right type of waste. 

“As it is now, all forms of waste are being placed into these drums,” she explained in response to commerce president Treacha Reid. “While we welcome the efforts of the chamber, we now have to look at perhaps covering these drums because, as they are, persons are placing things like coconuts in them and this makes it very difficult for our team to extract the garbage.”

Notwithstanding these issues residents of New Harbour Village 3 commended the waste management authority for being consistent in their garbage collection practice. Unfortunately, this is not the experience for residents next door in New Harbour Village I (NHV 1), with Keisha Demetrius Folkes highlighting weeks of uncollected garbage. 

Meanwhile, Dr Kurt Waul, councillor for the Old Harbour Bay Division, urged the police to place some focus on the culture of littering. With major crimes like murder down 40 percent nationally, Dr Waul says the police are in a position to utilize so of its resources to penalize those caught in breach of the anti-litter law. 

Said Dr Waul: “With all the littering I see taking place I’ve never seen or heard of anyone being prosecuted; and I think that given the fact that we have a little more resources on our hand, we don’t have to be running down too many criminals now… we can focus more now on the people and littering the streets and making the place look deplorable and very bad for business is a crime too.”