George’s Plain, Westmoreland, 16 September 2026
Westmoreland residents frustrated by irregular garbage pick-ups since Hurricane Melissa could soon see more frequent collections, after a new waste holding station opened at George’s Plain.
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) put the facility into service on Friday, 11 September. It cost more than $29 million to build and comes with solar power, staff offices and round-the-clock security monitoring.
Shorter trips for garbage trucks
Until now, trucks collecting in Westmoreland have had to make the long run to the Retirement disposal site in St James each time they filled up. Under the new arrangement, they can offload at George’s Plain and head straight back out on their routes, with the waste later hauled in bulk to Retirement.
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie called the station an important step for the parish, saying the gain in efficiency means Western Parks and Markets can now be held more accountable for its service. He said Westmoreland has produced more than 17 tonnes of garbage since the hurricane, possibly more than St James, Hanover and Trelawny combined, and expected the collection backlog to shrink considerably once the station is fully running.
Household waste only
NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon warned that the site accepts only ordinary municipal waste from homes and communities. Building rubble and other special waste are not allowed, and security is in place day and night to enforce that. “This is not a disposal site,” he said.
Westmoreland Mayor Danree Delancy said the station should ease problems linked to distance and traffic. Central Westmoreland MP Dwayne Vaz added that more reliable collection should discourage illegal dumping, which some residents have turned to when trucks failed to come.
What it means for residents
Regular garbage collection is one of the everyday services that shape how a neighbourhood looks and feels, and piles of uncollected rubbish can put off buyers and tenants alike. For homeowners and landlords across Westmoreland, a steadier schedule should mean cleaner streets and fewer informal dump sites. Anyone clearing hurricane debris or carrying out renovations, however, will still need to arrange proper disposal for construction waste rather than taking it to the new station.
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