MP York: Govt must fix garbage collection, but residents must also take responsibility for cleanliness

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Darryl York says government must be held accountable for the ongoing challenges surrounding garbage collection and waste management in St. Maarten, but residents must also recognize their responsibility to maintain clean communities and adopt better waste disposal practices.

According to York, the country's garbage problem cannot be resolved through government intervention alone, particularly when improper disposal habits continue to contribute to unsanitary conditions across several districts.

York acknowledged the frustrations of residents who continue to experience overflowing garbage bins, irregular collection and deteriorating conditions around communal waste disposal areas. However, he stressed that while government has a responsibility to provide an effective waste management system, residents must also make an effort to keep their surroundings clean rather than contribute to the problem.

"It's a two-way street," York said, explaining that government must ensure garbage is collected on time and that communities have sufficient and appropriate disposal facilities. At the same time, he criticized the practice of leaving garbage beside overflowing bins, particularly when individuals make little effort to find an alternative means of proper disposal.

York said residents should not have to travel considerable distances to dispose of household waste because of inadequate collection services or insufficient garbage bins. Nevertheless, he maintained that allowing garbage to accumulate in public spaces, whether out of frustration or indifference, ultimately damages the very communities in which residents live.

The MP also called for greater community accountability, encouraging residents to address improper disposal practices among neighbors rather than ignoring situations that could eventually affect an entire neighborhood.

"Hold your neighbor accountable," York stated, explaining that residents cannot afford to view poor sanitation as someone else's problem. He warned that accumulated waste creates conditions for rodents and other health concerns that can spread beyond the immediate area where garbage is being improperly disposed of.

York said community involvement should become a larger part of the country's approach to cleanliness. He shared an example from his own neighborhood, where residents have established a group chat and formed a smaller group to discuss improvements to their communal garbage disposal area. Among the measures being considered are improvements to the platforms supporting garbage bins and changes intended to prevent waste from being scattered around the collection point.

He believes similar neighborhood initiatives could help residents take greater ownership of their surroundings while continuing to demand that government fulfill its obligations.

While emphasizing public responsibility, York was equally critical of what he described as government's failure to address longstanding weaknesses in the garbage collection system.

He questioned the handling of the garbage collection tender process, which he said has been a source of concern since January, arguing that the uncertainty surrounding contractual arrangements and the continued challenges experienced by residents raise questions about how the service is being managed.

York suggested that government must learn from previous procurement and operational difficulties rather than repeat arrangements without addressing the problems that affected earlier collection periods.

He also raised concerns about the status of a garbage bin assessment reportedly undertaken in the districts at the beginning of the current government's term. According to York, nearly two years later, he has yet to receive a clear outcome of that assessment or an explanation of how its findings will translate into improvements.

The MP used his own neighborhood to illustrate why such assessments are necessary. He explained that an alley that once accommodated approximately ten households has grown considerably over the years, while the number of communal garbage bins has remained at six.

York argued that changes in population density and residential development must be reflected in the number, size and type of garbage bins provided in each district. Without regular assessments and adjustments, he said, communities will continue to experience overflowing bins even when residents attempt to dispose of their waste properly.

He questioned whether government has adequately assessed the needs of individual neighborhoods, identified areas where additional bins are required or considered alternative systems, including underground waste containers where appropriate.

The MP maintained that the responsible ministry should be able to demonstrate what measures have been completed within its direct control before placing responsibility for shortcomings entirely on collection contractors.

"It's easy to blame a hauler," York said, questioning whether government has completed its own outstanding responsibilities in relation to waste management infrastructure and planning.

He argued that the performance of contractors must be examined alongside government's responsibility to provide the conditions, facilities and administrative arrangements necessary for those contractors to deliver the expected services.

York also pointed to the broader financial demands placed on St. Maarten's waste management system by tourism. Referring to a point previously raised in Parliament by another Member of Parliament, he questioned whether sufficient consideration is being given to the waste generated by the large number of visitors entering the country annually.

He suggested that St. Maarten should examine how the tourism sector contributes to the cost of maintaining the infrastructure and public services used by visitors, including waste collection. He referenced environmental levies used elsewhere in the Caribbean as an example of an approach worth considering, while acknowledging that such proposals could generate concerns within the tourism sector.

For York, however, the immediate priority remains ensuring that the government addresses outstanding operational problems while residents improve the way they manage household waste and communal disposal areas.

He emphasized that the responsibility of the Minister of VROMI cannot be overlooked, particularly where assessments, planning and improvements remain outstanding. At the same time, he cautioned against placing every aspect of the country's garbage problem on the shoulders of the minister or the collection companies.

York maintained that communities can contribute through better disposal habits, neighborhood cooperation, reporting problems and taking practical steps to maintain communal collection areas.

His position is that effective waste management requires government to provide the necessary infrastructure, contractors to deliver reliable collection services and residents to treat community cleanliness as a shared obligation.

"It going to take all of us," York stated.

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