Environment Minister: Illegal Dumping Threatens Communities And Health

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Illegal dumping is more than just an eyesore – it’s a serious environmental risk and unfortunately, here in The Bahamas there’s no shortage of the illegal activity.

The Ministry of the Environment has taken notice, launching environmental and clean-up initiatives aimed at addressing illegal dumping in communities across the capita, one of their first stops was the Nassau Village Constituency.

Jasmin Brown tells us more in tonight’s Sustainability First.

When residents choose to dispose of waste in unauthorized areas like empty lots, roadsides, or even waterways, they contribute to a growing problem that affects communities, wildlife, and the environment.

And the consequences can be dire.

Experts say dumped waste slowly leaches hazardous substances like microplastics and toxins into the soil – it also contaminates the water and air.

And then there’s the harm to local wildlife, by driving animals from their homes and sickening those that eat the waste.

It also creates visual pollution that residents shouldn’t have to live with, as living next to or near an illegal dumping site drives down property values.

Also, the clean-up costs can add up to hundreds of thousands spent removing dumped waste.

No one knows that better than Environment Minister Zane Lightbourne.

We caught up with him in the Nassau Village Community, where he and the area MP Jamahl Strachan were at the launch of a clean-up campaign at an illegal dump site.

“What we saw was appalling. The level of dumping it went from bulk waste items, to vehicles to bags of trash or residential garbage, waste. This is not only hazardous to communities in terms of the health of the environment, but the health of our people. In addition to that we saw adjacent properties that were filled with garbage, and they were turned into mini dump sites.”

The environment minister calls the crime unacceptable and says residents should never become comfortable with illegally dumping.

To prevent future dumping, he says the ministry is setting up a transfer station for Nassau Village residents.

“I want to be very clear, a transfer station is not a dump site. A transfer site is an area where, instead of accumulating garbage in the bushes and bulk items in the bushes and on the side of the road. This will be a place where you can bring bulk items. Bulk waste does not include residential waste and garbage. “

Lightbourne says he hopes campaigns like this can help reduce illegal dumping, making it a win-win for everyone.