Jamaica generates approximately 800,000 tons of residential waste annually. The proper management and disposal of this waste is the responsibility of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). However, the continued dumping of waste at this waste-shed with little or no sorting poses major health and environmental concerns.
This policy brief was motivated by the need to increase awareness and understanding of the potential benefits of proper waste management and waste minimization practices. The routine occurrence of fire at the most active waste management site in Jamaica – the Riverton landfill – is also of major concern. These fires, resulting from spontaneous combustion and arson, serve to highlight the health and environmental risks associated with poor waste management practices.
