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Struggle over Trash Bins in Batumi

February 18, 2008

Rubbish bins disappeared from Queen Tamar’s Settlement in Batumi two weeks ago. Local residents claim that the dumpsters, full of garbage, were taken by employees of the Sanitary Service Department. Since then, the population has no choice but to place their garbage in front of where they are living and this is not only unsightly but unsanitary.

Residents of the Queen Tamar’s Settlement # 42 point out that the rubbish bins suddenly together with the employees of the Sanitary Service Department. “Sanitary Service Department showed up one day in the settlement and took away the bins along with the garbage. Since then they have not brought bins back and now the garbage is being dumped in front of the buildings. Consequently, the surrounding area has become polluted and the air is fowls,” said Nani Komakhidze, a resident of the settlement.

The situation has left no choice for local residents other than to burn the garbage that has piled up in front of their residential buildings. This has been going on each evening for the past several days. All requests to the Sanitary Department to bring the bins back have been unsuccessful. “We are now inundated with rats and street dogs and demand the bins back,” said Giorgi Kakhadze.

Locals think that the reason for removing the bins from the area is because of debts to the Sanitary Service Department. However, they claim that most of them have paid the service bills on time.

Fridon Mchedlidze, director of the Sanitary Service Department explained the situation because the bins were stolen and the only way that the problem will be resolved is by moving the bins to other area. “We lack bins in the city and the city authority knows about the problem. Thus funds will be apportioned for that specific purpose. We are not intentionally interested in removing the bins from the Queen Tamar’s Settlement,” said director of the department. 

It is evident, that the residents of the settlement will have to wait for additional bins. The trash was last removed from that region of town two weeks ago.

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

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