Waste and Pollution in Port of Spain

Urbanization is a rapidly growing phenomenon all over the world and in particular LDC's. According to China's government, the most effective way for goods and services to be delivered to members of the rural community is for them to move to core areas (UEP 2014). One may ask, "Why is there so much pollution in the city? There should be waste disposal points throughout", and this is true, but the rate of urbanization surpasses the rate of application of the necessary amenities to contain and dispose of physical waste. As the urban population in Port of Spain and environs continues to increase one will inevitably see a corresponding increase in the amount of pollution in and around the city.

Picture 1. Household garbage strewn across the ground, Port of Spain

Picture 2. Garbage approaching the port along the Beetham Highway

Above is an image of garbage thrown beneath a 'DO NOT LITTER' sign just on the fringes of the capital, most likely stemming from either urban households, parlours or small restaurants. In my opinion littering/illegal dumping has become part of our culture here in T&T, as best exemplified by the urban dwellers or Port of Spain and environs. It’s safe to say that we’ll never solve our problems without a shift in culture (Doley 2013). And we’ll never drive a culture shift and influence littering behavior if all people see is someone who goes around cleaning up after them, because the underlying message to them is "Dem CEPEP and garbage men to take it up. Small ting". A lot of money used on deploying street cleaners can be saved if persons follow the correct procedures to dispose of their garbage.

Illegal dumping in the East Dry River as well as other waterways natural or man-made within the city itself has the additional problem of causing clogging which in turn causes flooding when the rainy season or just heavy rains occur. This doesn't affect only the offenders but everyday commuters who travel in and out of the city by foot or via private transportation, in that water rises to such a level that passage literally becomes impossible (we have seen the result of flooding in Port of Spain), thus ruining the individual's ability to access bare essentials or desirables.

Cleanup projects will require a coordinated planning effort to ensure that adequate resources and funding are available. Once a site has been cleaned, signs, lighting or barriers may be required to discourage future dumping. Signs should indicate the fines and penalties for illegal dumping (which I believe should be no less than $5,000TTD), and a phone number for reporting incidents. Landscaping and beautification efforts may also discourage future dumping, as well as provide open space and increase property values (US EPA, 1998). 

This may be the most important tool in ensuring that this practice is effective. The organization of special cleanup events where communities are provided with the resources to properly dispose of illegally dumped materials increases the understanding among residents of illegal dumping impacts and supplies opportunities to correctly dispose of materials which may otherwise be illegally dumped. Integration of illegal dumping prevention into community policing programs or use of programs such as Crime Stoppers may also be an effective way to increase enforcement opportunities without the additional cost of hiring new staff. Producing simple messages relating the cost of illegal dumping on local taxes and proper disposal sites will aid in eliminating the problem. Having a hotline where citizens can report illegal activities and educating the public on the connection between the storm drain and water quality will decrease disposal of waste into storm drain inlets. (US EPA, 1998). 

References:

Doley, Emaleigh. "AxisPhilly - The Trash Talk Project." 6 Feb 2013. 
    http://axisphilly.org/article/littering-habit-or-culture/ (accessed Feb 10, 2014).

Hoogervorst, Fred. Photo #03603453db." Trinidad and Tobago.

Hoogervorst, Fred. "Photo #5113025db." Trinidad and Tobago.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1998. "Illegal Dumping 
    Prevention 
    Guidebook." Chicago: US EPA Region 5, Waste, Pesticides, and Toxics Division.