The Chamber of Deputies yesterday discussed the trash dumping bill sponsored by Miguel Sanz Jiminián, and while approving the greatly amended version, sent it back for more discussion by a special committee before giving a final plenary vote. The bill would make all property owners responsible for keeping public passageways in front of their property clear of trash and debris. Trash would only be allowed to be put curbside at set trash collection times. Vehicles would not be banning from dumping their trash on public streets, as often happens in Santo Domingo. Industrial waste containing lead, such as lead acid batteries used in vehicles and for inverter arrays, would be required to be collected in special containers. Construction projects, both public and private, would be required to keep their debris in special large on-site containers (not on sidewalks and streets, as often done in the DR). Part of the reason the bill was submitted for more discussion despite a favorable report from the committee reviewing it is that it was pointed out that many cities are not equipped with the types of containers specified by the bill and in some cases City Hall would be the biggest violator of the bill’s provisions.
