Landfill shortage fuels garbage collection woes in New Amsterdam

Jun 29, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – Residents of New Amsterdam have been contending with months of irregular and delayed garbage collection, resulting in overflowing bins and reports of indiscriminate waste disposal as the municipality struggles without a dedicated landfill site.

Mayor Wainwright McIntosh has acknowledged the ongoing challenges and assured residents that the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) remains committed to improving the situation within its available capacity.

Landfill shortage fuels garbage collection woes in New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam Mayor Wainwright McIntosh

He explained, however, that the municipality continues to operate without its own landfill site, a situation he said has severely affected solid waste management in the town. McIntosh added that discussions with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development regarding a permanent solution have not been consistent.

In an interview with Kaieteur News, the mayor stressed that the current difficulties are not due to a lack of garbage collection resources, noting that the council still has compactor trucks in operation. Instead, he said the crisis began after the closure of the long-standing Esplanade Landfill site nearly two years ago.

“The New Amsterdam landfill site has been closed by the Ministry of Local Government. It left the municipality wanting. To date, the municipality is being forced to utilise the landfill site at Rose Hall, Corentyne,” McIntosh explained.

He said that when the Esplanade site was operational, waste management was more efficient due to its proximity. Since its closure, the council has been relying on the Rose Hall landfill, which has significantly increased operational costs and travel time, with trips taking up to an hour and a half along the Corentyne highway.

The mayor also noted that previous proposals to use alternative sites, including the Belle Vue area along the East Bank of Berbice, were rejected following strong opposition from residents, leaving the municipality without a viable long-term solution.

“We found ourselves in a serious position where this site is now closed, and still we don’t have any solid word or confirmation from the Ministry of Local Government,” McIntosh said. “It can be very frustrating.”

He added that the Rose Hall arrangement, while necessary, has created further challenges including increased fuel costs and delays in waste disposal, particularly during periods of unfavourable weather that restrict access to the site. These issues, he said, have contributed to the accumulation of garbage across the town.

McIntosh also pointed out that the council had previously identified a potential landfill location in the Overwinning backlands, but said the proposal was not accepted at the time. The area is now being developed for housing by the Central Housing and Planning Authority as part of the Providence, Glasgow and Overwinning housing scheme.

He reiterated his call for stronger collaboration between central government, the Regional Democratic Council and local authorities, noting that sustainable solutions require coordinated decision-making.

“I continue to say there must be meaningful collaboration between central government, the Regional Democratic Council and local democratic organs,” he said. “These discussions really don’t happen, and the functioning of these local democratic organs cannot be done in isolation.”

The mayor also raised the matter during a recent courtesy call by European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, when concerns about solid waste management were highlighted.

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garbage collection, Landfill shortage, New Amsterdam

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