AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Garbage woes cause growing concerns

Might ask Danny how he's going to handle the increase in cancer in his community.

Positive suggestions are far more helpful than sarcasm, and are far more likely to be listened to.

....and then what? Where does it finally end up at?

It's not really sarcasm Diane. It's genuine concern that Mr. Guerro doesn't seem to share. Perhaps he's just not been educated in that regard, despite this having been raised for a significant amount of time, even before his term. Perhaps the town's people all need to be made aware as well.

Get a good solid plan, present it to the individuals who can implement it ( which is mostly not the message board crew), work for it in person, and see what happens?

Contact TacoGirl and work with the Red Cross on health issues? They need support and they care.

Research recycling projects even on a small scale, and implement them directly.

Seriously, good things can happen but you need to do more than complain to manifest them.

One person can REALLY make a difference with an issue that has people saying " somebody should do something about this". It's amazing how easy it is to start a volunteer group, have people join and make it grow.

I'm an old fart but I have seen it happen.

SPTC addresses ways to tackle garbage issues

For quite some time now, island residents have been complaining about the unsightly garbage across the island of Ambergris Caye. Despite the complaints, garbage still continues to be an issue. To date, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has addressed and cleaned up three main problem areas: Alta Mar Area, the area between the beach and airstrip in town core, and Boca del Rio. A system has been placed in order to address the garbage situation on the island, but SPTC needs the collaboration of the public.

According to Deputy Mayor, Gary Greif, the council is trying its best to attack the issues from all fronts. "There are agreements with people from the resorts up north who can take their garbage to the Marina, which is collected by private companies. From the Marina Area, Town Council employee Samuel Gonzalez takes the garbage to the dump. This is only for people that have arrangements with us. Everybody else needing to dispose of their trash has to go to the garbage dump. Greif also explained the schedule for garbage disposal. "There is the normal residential garbage pickup which is done by the large compactors, then you have the yard garbage pickup which is done on a schedule basis, two days for Escalante, Boca del Rio, DFC and it rotates". He also mentioned that they have agreements with trucks identified with a black plate, which can be hired for private garbage disposal. These operators know the procedure of taking the trash all the way to the garbage dump.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun

I might be in the minority here, but I believe there needs to be an effective, well planned, and well maintained dump north. Items sifted thru and recycled, some items burned (vegetation only).. then excess barged to the planned waste site south.

The island is developing too quickly north for people to rely on resorts and individuals to pay for, or transport themselves, trash all the way south of town via the road. Yes I am aware of the private trash hauler/trucks/barges... but it is NOT working. Ride the road any day north of Las Terrazas....you will see its not working.

DC

Decom - You are so totally right. I think the north should set up a program for sorting recyclable trash from degradable garbage. When properly handled (like buried) garbage is good fill. Stop burning vegetation that will decompose!

I think neighborhood watch organizations could organize way more than crime watch. This was my falling away from our NACNW. My concept was before we can watch out for each other we need to get to know each other - ergo - some socialization.

What a great time we had back when we did what was called "The Great Garbage Games." Who remembers that dump truck piled high - high with black plastic bags where we cleaned up the landing site for the 1st Sky divers?

It is not working south either. We actuall need a green dump where vegetation is allowed to turn into compost and be sold back to us here on the island for gardens (Instead of paying 10-20 dollars per bag for "black dirt" that is illegally harvested from lands and peddled and sold as coming from a Maya site and really good...when in actuality it has such a high clay content it is not usable as is). I thought our garbage was supposed to be barged to the mainland to the new land fill there.?? I thought we had a recycling place here on the island. Seems like one was advertised in the spring last year. What happened to that? The "schedules" are published, but never accurate. There is so much more that could be and should be done.