Desechos Solidos is Offical

Bocas finally has an official group in charge of the trash collection service! It was approved by the government in a meeting on October 2nd that the current service, Bocas Desechos Solidos, will continue until January 31st, 2014 or until a new waste management company comes into the picture, whichever comes first.

It all began with a group concerned citizens who grew tired of the mounds of trash piled on docks and along the streets of Bocas Town. With no experience in trash removal whatsoever, they raised the appropriate funds via donations and organized the labor and equipment to get the job done. That was in late August.  September was a month long study of the logistical side of collecting the trash and charging for the service.  Meetings were set with the municipalities and an agreement was made to let the current service continue for a 4 month period, unless an already established waste management company comes forth for the contract.

During the meetings, Bocas Derechos Solidos also read a letter to their mayor in which they are requesting the use of one of the Caribbean-style wooden buildings in the park. They would like to use the middle building (the yellow one) not only as an office to receive payments , but also to welcome any project in the effort of reducing, reusing and recycling garbage in the community. “Waste Reduction” and “Recycling” committees are already being formed and would be able to organize their activities out of this office. They would also like to use this location to encourage the sale of shopping bags (to replace plastic bags), crafts from recycled materials and shirts that promote these messages.

These are some great initiatives all around. Congratulations to Bocas Desechos Solidos and thank you to all those who contributed and made this whole project possible.