Today’s featured photo caption about a commercial vehicle with plates V-1688 illegally dumping trash at a bin located on the boundary of Saunders and Betty’s Estate sends the right message. Society must stop letting those who wilfully pollute the country get away with it.
According to the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI, the garbage hauler had recently emptied this container but now trash could be seen flowing out, on the ground and in the drainage. This, while the landfill remains open and free to the community.
VROMI noted that such “disgusting and anti-social behaviour has no place in our community and country.” The truck’s owner will be charged for the additional clean-up of the bin and surrounding area.
Moreover, publishing the licence number in the newspaper has a “name and shame” effect. It allows people to avoid doing business with a known litterbug.
Frustration was just recently expressed that less than a month after a coastal clean-up at Little Bay, rubbish had again accumulated there. Continued lack of a single-use plastics ban is among the concerns mentioned, along with construction waste and filling material that may be encroaching on beach space.
Laws prohibiting illegal waste dumping require strong control and enforcement, but police and inspectors cannot be everywhere at the same time. People may assist with video recording such reprehensible acts and sending the footage to authorities, but should always remain very careful to go unnoticed by the culprits for their own protection.
Ultimately, keeping the “The Friendly Island” from becoming “The Dirty Island” is a joint responsibility.
