The Division of Health and Social Services is collaborating with the police to have the Litter Act enforced in Tobago, Secretary of the Division Assemblyman Claudia Groome-Duke said on Wednesday.

This is the latest step in the drive to ensure Tobago stays “clean, green, safe and serene”, according to the Secretary. The Public Health Department will also resume its island-wide clean-up campaign, starting Monday (September 21 2015).

The clean-up will start between Charlotteville to Calder Hall, and continue on Wednesday from L’Anse Fourmi to Scarborough—including areas such as Mt Thomas, Les Coteaux, Arnos Vale, Mt Grace, Idle Wild, Glen Road, Pump Mill and Darrel Spring.

The third day of the campaign on September 28 will be from Bon Accord to Lower Scarborough, including Whim, and Shirvan Road to Plymouth. Along that route, Buccoo, Bethel, Black Rock, Patience Hill, Signal Hill and Spring Garden will also benefit.

Groome-Duke is urging residents in these areas to place their refuse, such as unwanted stoves, fridges, galvanised sheets and other bulky materials, at their entrance the day before the scheduled pickup to have them collected.

The Division is taking a further step, with a team currently working to roll out a waste management plan during heritage health month in October.

In addition, the Division of Health and Social Services is collaborating with the Division of Community Development and Culture on a litter education campaign in the communities. They will also meet with the village and community councils to discuss the establishment of community bins.

Groome-Duke said her Division has also been speaking to the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport to promote litter education in all the island’s schools and introduce a special recycling programme for garbage collection.

The Division of Health will also engage the students in a jingle contest. Speech bands will also be used to spread awareness of the “Don’t Litter” campaign.

The number of garbage collection contractors in Tobago will also be increased, Groome-Duke stated.

“We are hoping that the issue of garbage collection will be a thing of the past,” she said. “We expect all of us to take responsibility in waste management on the island and to ensure that we keep it very clean.”