Tropical Storm Nicole - Planning Institute of Jamaica

Waste
Significant volumes of waste were deposited in terrestrial as well as coastal aquatic systems,
especially solid waste. The deposit of high volumes of solid waste is a recurring problem
during storm events due to inadequate waste management in the country. Improper disposal
of solid waste does not only cause the blockage of drains which results in flooding, but can
threaten the lives of marine organisms and reduce the aesthetic appeal of beaches. It is also
possible that a lot of hazardous waste may be deposited in water bodies during flood events
which end up in the marine environment. Given the lack of treatment and disposal facilities
for hazardous waste, both solid and liquid forms of this type of waste could also harm the
marine environment.
The clean up expenditure after Tropical Storm Nicole amounted to $2.4 million. The
Metropolitan Parks and Markets Administrative Region which cover the parishes of
Kingston and St. Andrew accounted for 83.2 per cent of the clean up cost (Table 24).
Table 24: Solid Waste Expenditure Associated with Tropical Storm Nicole by Region
REGION
EXPENDITURE
Metropolitan Parks & Markets (MPM) $1,965,480.00
North Eastern Parks and Markets(NEPM) Waste Management Ltd. $ 236,512.00
Southern Parks and Markets (SPM) Waste Management Ltd. $- 18
Western Parks and Markets (WPM) Waste Management Ltd. $ 160,000.00
Total Expenditure $2,361,992.00
Source: National Solid Waste Management Authority
c) Indirect Loss
The reduction or loss of the protective effect of coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, and
seagrass can lead to significant erosion of coastline threatening coastal infrastructure and
livelihoods. The loss of these ecosystems will also affect marine fish production and disrupt
the livelihoods of fishers and other individuals and businesses that directly or indirectly
18 An estimate of the clean up expenditure for North Eastern parks and markets was not available at the time
of writing of this report
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