Several sheets and pillows which were among the waste that the NSWMA says was dumped illegally in Dunnsville/ Exchange, St Ann. - Contributed

An all-inclusive resort and a garbage collection contractor, both on the north coast, yesterday found themselves in a messy situation after the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) discovered that the hotel's waste was being disposed of illegally, in a small community, in St Ann.

Speaking with THE STAR yesterday, Joan Gordon Webley, executive director of the NSWMA, explained that the resort had contracted a truck driver to dump its waste. However, the agency uncovered that the driver was not disposing of the garbage at designated landfills, but, instead, offloaded the waste at nights in "a little country community" in Dunnsville/ Exchange, St Ann, breaching the National Solid Waste Management Act.

"We discovered, in rummaging through the garbage, that items were coming from the hotel; there were sheets and other item," Webley said. "They were issued with tickets. We have given them a deadline to ensure that whatever is (dumped) there is removed."

She explained that while investigations are yet to establish if the hotel knew the contracted haulier was illegally dumping the waste in a public place, they (the resort) still had the responsibility to ensure that the waste given to the truck driver was done away with properly and legally.

The NSWMA director said that initial checks have since revealed that the contractor was not registered with the agency. Investigations continue in the matter.