By year-end, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) will increase its fleet of vehicles and is promising improved service to the public.

Cabinet on Monday approved several contracts for the acquisition of heavy-duty vehicles to replace the current ageing fleet.

Information Minister Colin Campbell said during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that Vehicles and Supplies Ltd. had been awarded a contract worth US$10 million (J$660 million) to supply 60 garbage compactors.

The Government will spend an additional US$4.5 million to purchase 12 mini garbage com-pactors, five crane trucks, two fuel trucks, two trailer heads, four water trucks and 12 tipper trucks.

Aim to modernise

"This is to modernise and significantly increase the fleet of vehicles available to the National Solid Waste Management Authority in order to increase its capacity to deal with the issue of solid waste collection and disposal services islandwide," the Information Minister said.

Deryke Smith, director of finance at the NSWMA, told The Gleaner that the company was happy to receive news of the Cabinet approval, noting that the acquisition of new vehicles would make a significant impact on the delivery of service to the public.

He said the NSWMA will also be embarking on a public educa-tion programme in schools to emphasise the importance of proper garbage disposal.