A large shipping container filled with garbage was reported to have turned over near the San Pedro Solid Waste Transfer Station in Southern Ambergris Caye. The incident left a massive pile of trash along the road; spilling into the mangroves and floating into the nearby water ways. The mountain of filth sat at the location for over a week before any action was taken to rectify the situation.
Several attempts were made to get the container on its wheels by using a 50-foot excavator, but to no avail. The next day a crane was brought in, and that did the job in a matter of minutes. However, the problem was not completely solved, as the garbage remained untouched. The San Pedro Sun reported the incident to the Hol Chan Marine Organization as well as the local municipal authorities at the San Pedro Town Council. Both committed to follow up on the issue and make the necessary reports after their investigations; but upon following up, the garbage remains where it fell.
In a final attempt to address the issue, The Sun notified the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWM) in Belmopan. Headquarters personnel were unaware of the situation, but began making arrangements to get the situation solved. The BSWM informed The San Pedro Sun that the container belongs to PASA Belize Limited ( a Mexican waste management company), which is the firm in charge of the operation of the transfer station in Ambergris Caye, and which barges the garbage to the sanitary landfill on the mainland.
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