The campaign to remove derelict vehicles from roadsides and public spaces in Saint Lucia involves exporting some of the items for recycling.
The disclosure came from Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA) Information and Communications Manager Emlyn Jean.
Jean told St. Lucia Times that the SLSWMA works with local processors to ensure the vehicles are managed responsibly once removed.
“Once received at the landfill the authority works alongside local processors who receive these vehicles for processing where some would be exported for recycling,” she said.
The SLSWMA is collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure sanitary management and recycling in the process, which also involves sanitary management to ensure that the vehicles do not get back into public spaces and threaten the environment.
“With respect to the removal process, nothing has changed. Anytime vehicles are removed, quotations are sourced from suppliers of wrecker services, and selections are made,” Jean explained, adding that a private contractor is not involved.
She explained that the removal campaign contracts available wrecker companies to remove the derelict vehicles.
According to Jean, the removal process may sometimes involve persons wanting to retrieve their vehicles, at which point the SLSWMA would decide whether to return the items to the owners at a cost.
Since the recent announcement of the joint SLSWMA and Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF)-led campaign to rid roadways and other spaces of derelict vehicles, the authorities have removed 82.
An RSLPF update disclosed that the campaign tagged 343 vehicles as of Friday.
The vehicle locations included Castries, Gros Islet, Dennery, Praslin, Laborie, Canaries, Choiseul, Micoud, and Soufriere.
The RSLPF said owners received seven days to comply with removal notices, failing which the authorities made other arrangements to take away the vehicles.
However, some owners removed the items.
“The removal exercise will continue until every vehicle has been removed and the authorities are satisfied that there is no longer a risk to public health and safety,” the RSLPF asserted.
