Garbage collection has always been one of the Belize City Council's major issues, and in the past, they have mentioned a garbage fee, which caused a divide in the council and also upset residents who would have less money in their pockets.
But so far, things seem to be running smoothly, so the media asked the mayor for an update. He emphasized the importance of the public working with the City Council, and practicing civic pride, since he says every time you litter, they pay.
Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor
"Garbage will always be an issue. It is not only in Belize City; it is in all municipalities. Garbage costs money and each time a resident throw a bag of garbage on the ground, it costs the city. And it is free and it is your garbage at the end of the day. We brought that to the table, I believe late last year. It did not reach the caucus in terms of getting support and so we are working along with our local government and it is across all municipalities. There is this move by the Belize Waste Management to begin to work along those stations that they have built where they have spent millions upon millions of dollars and they are not working as efficient as they would want it to work. And so we have always asked the residents of the city to be a partner with us, begin to do your part, be civic-minded, be city-oriented, be national-oriented and work along with the city."
