Approximately 3,000 large rubbish cans were distributed throughout the capital over the weekend of 20-22 September during a clean-up operation headed by television producer Roberto Salcedo.
Civilian volunteers and military personnel participated in the operation. The city was divided into seven zones which had the most rubbish accumulated in the streets. In addition to several private companies and the Minister of Public Works, the city council provided 45 trucks to help with the clean-up.
The deficiency in refuse collection has continued despite the efforts by the central government and the city council to pressure the Attwoods Dominicana company, which is under contract to provide collection services in most of the capital, to improve its performance.
The city council recently signed a contract with the U.S. firm Environmental Products for the recycling of 80% of the refuse deposited in the Duquesa dump in the National District. The 20-year contract states that the company will donate 20 rubbish compactor trucks and invest US$36 million in recycling operations.
The agreement was signed by the mayor of Santo Domingo, Rafael Subervi Bonilla, and the president of Environmental Products, Fred McCluskey, at the municipal offices in Santo Domingo. According to the terms of the agreement, the city council will receive 10% of benefits from the company’s operations, which will begin immediately. An area of more than 350 tareas has been cleared for the recycling process.