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Litterbugs making life hell for Jamaicans

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September 16, 2016
Jermaine Barnaby/Freelance Photographer Thousands of plastic bottles and other debris were washed onto the Wallenford Coffee Factory property, which is situated along Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. Afternoon showers caused massive flooding in the area, which the National Works Agency said was made worst by improper disposal of garbage.

The The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) said it has issued 578 tickets to litterbugs part of its mandate to keep Jamaica clean.

Under the law, a person commits an offence if he/she throws, drops or otherwise deposits and leaves any litter in any public place. If a person throws garbage out of a car on to the roadway, for example, he can be given a $2,000 ticket.

The NSWMA says it continues to be disturbed by the high level of dumping and littering taking place in gullies, open lots and streets.

"These are not only a threat to the environment, but also to lives and properties," the authority said.