The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), is to introduce garbage transfer stations in order to reduce the time taken to collect garbage.

Speaking with JIS News, NSWMA Executive Director, Joan Gordon-Webley said the transfer stations would help to reduce garbage backlog. "This will give trucks faster turnaround time and allow operators to get a better deal doing more collections each day," she added.

The transfer stations will be trailer-hauled containers, which will be placed strategically in communities. Compacted garbage will be stored in the containers which, when full, will be hauled to the dump sites.

Commenting on steps which would be taken to ensure that improvement in garbage collection is realised, Mrs. Gordon-Webley said: "We will be ensuring that we have our own equipment."

On the impact that the local government reform programme, now in progress, would have on the garbage collection operations of the NSWMA, Mrs. Gordon-Webley said that, "as local government reform proceeds, we are not certain what will stay with NSWMA and what will stay with the local authorities."

"Collecting market garbage puts added strain on our operations, because we spend an average $200,000 weekly in a single market and we are not being paid to do so," she said.

Mrs. Gordon-Webley pointed out that $600 million was owed to creditors, resulting in suppliers demanding to be paid cash-on-delivery. She said this had placed severe strain on the agency. However, she said steps are being taken to clear all the outstanding payments to creditors before the end of the year and eliminate over-billing, which has been largely responsible for the poor financial state at the agency.

Citing an example of excessive charges, she said that, "attempts have been made to keep equipment at the Riverton City Landfill broken down frequently forcing us to hire equipment from private suppliers."

"Our repair contractors have found watered down gas and blockages with plastic and other foreign bodies in vehicles and equipment at the landfill," Mrs. Gordon-Webley said.