NSWMA launches Operation CALM to cut flood risk from debris this hurricane season

Residents across Jamaica are being pressed to manage refuse more carefully so blocked drains and waterways do not heighten flooding while the hurricane season runs its course.

That message came from Aretha McFarlane, Operations Director at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), at the recent unveiling of Operation CALM — Cleaning, Advising, Leveraging and Maintaining — held at the Hugh Shearer Community Centre in Rocky Point, Clarendon.

Operation CALM is designed to strengthen community resilience by hauling bulky waste and debris out of exposed, flood-prone zones where material can choke drains and channels. A parallel public education drive aims to foster civic duty and curb illegal dumping.

Miss McFarlane said the rollout is especially timely because the effects of recent hurricanes remain vivid for many Jamaicans. Framing sound disposal as a duty shared by all, she asked householders to bag and bin their rubbish properly and to coordinate with the waste contractors serving their districts.

People were also told to flag skipped pickup service through the NSWMA’s regional offices or its customer service telephone line.

She cautioned against leaving rubbish on vacant lots, arguing that the habit heavily fuels clogged watercourses and wider environmental harm. The Operations Director also urged households to pin down refuse when rains turn heavy and to keep animals from dragging garbage across neighbourhoods.

Partnerships with local actors, she said, sit at the heart of the plan’s prospects. The NSWMA already links with schools, churches, community organisations, businesses and elected representatives to deepen resilience where people live.

She gave an assurance that public cleansing officers, collection crews and extra contracted support will stay on duty islandwide throughout the season.

Work under Operation CALM began with the clearance of bulky refuse and abandoned vehicles in Rocky Point and in Black River, St. Elizabeth. Twelve tipper trucks plus a crane truck have been assigned to the effort. Participating partners include the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Social Development Commission (SDC).