SCC admits garbage truck shortage

The shortage of rubbish trucks has disrupted waste collection schedules, says Suva City Council (SCC) executive chairperson Tevita Boseiwaqa.

Mr Boseiwaqa was responding to Bayview Heights residents’ in Suva complaints about the stench from piles of rubbish stacked at the roadside.

Bayview Heights resident Jotame Baleiwai expressed frustration with the SCC’s failure to collect rubbish on time.

“SCC has not come around to explain their failure to adhere to the collection schedule; the sight and smell are frustrating,” Mr Baleiwai said.

Mr Baleiwai explained that they had contacted the council and requested rubbish collection, but aside from picking up regular kitchen waste, no action had been taken to clear the larger piles that had been sitting for days.

Another resident, Losana Raikibeqa, said the large pile of rubbish near her home was affecting their health.

“The stench from the rubbish is unbearable,” Ms Raikibeqa said.

“It’s attracting flies, cockroaches, rats, and other insects are entering our house.”

She added that while the council workers came around to collect the regular garbage, they continue to ignore the large piles of waste accumulating around the area.

“The smell gets worse on rainy days,” Ms Raikibeqa said.

“We have to keep our windows closed. In the last few weeks, my whole family has been sick. I’ve just recovered from the flu, and my three grandchildren, who walk past that pile of rubbish every day on their way to school, also got sick. It’s filthy and an eyesore.”

There are other residents who wish to remain anonymous but mention that people from outside the area have also begun using it to dump their rubbish.

“People just come, throw their rubbish, and leave,” a resident said.

Solution

“We are aware of the problem residents are facing, and we are exploring alternative solutions to improve service delivery,” Mr Boseiwaqa said.

“At the moment, we’ve had to hire additional garbage trucks, which cost us about $500 per trip. If we make four trips a day, the total cost is around $2000, which is quite expensive.”

Mr Boseiwaqa also pointed out that part of the issue is that residents are not aware of waste collection times and are not taking the initiative to dispose of their rubbish properly.

“We have noticed that many residents are not taking responsibility for keeping their community clean,” he said.

He added that the garbage collectors only pick up household kitchen waste.

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