🚯 Public urged not to illegally dump waste due to absence of pre-Christmas clean-up

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has urged the public not to illegally dump large waste items due to the absence of the usual pre-Christmas bulk-waste collection this year. Instead, residents are encouraged to take their waste to the George Town or Sister Islands landfills. The DEH has also ramped up its community monitoring efforts, with officers conducting weekly checks to identify and address environmental health issues such as littering and illegal dumping. 🌍

DEH Director Richard Simms has stated that any bulk waste placed in kerbside or empty lots will be considered illegal dumping and littering, and should be reported. The shift of the annual collection of bulk waste from November to May was aimed at reducing the amount of debris that could be generated by severe weather. Illegal dumping and littering can result in penalties including six months of imprisonment and a minimum fine of $500. 🚔

The George Town Landfill operates from 7:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays and until 1:00pm on Saturdays, remaining closed on Sundays. However, the landfill drop-off facility at the gate is accessible to the public and small vehicles 24 hours per day. 🕖