Let’s be honest. We’ve all walked or driven through the streets in some communities around Jamaica and seen massive pileups of garbage. Plastics and old furniture and food scraps all piled together create a massive eyesore for us when we need to pass to get where we’re going. But these pileups are more than just an unsightly annoyance. Without proper waste disposal, we are putting ourselves at greater risk of disease.

Intersection of Love Lane and North Street in capital city Kingston, Jamaica || Photo Credit: Jovan Johnson @jovanthony

Here are some of the reasons why proper waste disposal is important:

1. Hazardous Waste

Certain types of wastes can be hazardous and can contaminate the environment if not handled properly. These include items like cleaning materials and paints, batteries, fluorescent lightbulbs, etc that have the potential to ignite, corrode or react with another chemical and become toxic to surrounding areas.

    2. Vermin Heaven

Do we have to mention that foul smell?  Garbage pile ups attract pests and vermin which is definitely a problem. Rat infestations, roaches, maggots, flies, you name it! Not to mention all the bacteria that love these stinky conditions. This facilitates the spread of illnesses and diseases such as leptospirosis, gastrointestinal infections, cholera, skin diseases, and respiratory allergies.

3. Contaminated Water

Pile ups also have the potential to get into water supplies. A threat to the water supply is a threat to our livelihood. Contaminated water can result in a variety of health problems, including cholera, gastrointestinal illnesses, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders.

What You Can Do

You can mitigate the effects of poor garbage collection in your community by sorting your garbage properly. By grouping similar items and making sure they are properly sealed and contained in bins, you’ll definitely avoid situations like this and contain the risk to the health of your community.