The Government will be seeking to safeguard the environment via various pieces of legislation and a possible reworking of the Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL) in 2026.
Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath says while there is no hard and fast proposal for SWMCOL, it is before the Cabinet for discussion.
He told TTT News that other legislation will be coming to ensure there are stricter environmental protection guidelines.
“One piece of legislation that will be brought has to do with the Beverage Container Bill. That has its own impact in terms of the environmental impact that it will have. Also, you will have coming up shortly, you will have the Styrofoam Risk and Reduction Bill. That is going to be tabled in the Parliament as well.”
He says while the Government is fleshing out what a new entity would look like, they will also be trying to create a culture change with regard to waste management and recycling in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Legislation alone will not work. You also have to have enforcement and therefore that is why, when you alluded to how do we have SWMCOL evolving, that agency—whatever it turns out to be—will be the legislative support to give enforcement.”