In several Housing Development Corporation (HDC) communities across Trinidad and Tobago, residents say the holiday season has come with an unwelcome gift: garbage piling up faster than it’s being collected.
Overflowing bins and torn garbage bags have been reported in a number of estates, raising concerns about sanitation, pests, and what many see as a preventable public health risk. While the HDC has not officially declared a crisis, residents say the effects of inconsistent waste collection are becoming harder to ignore.
At the heart of the issue are reported budget pressures and adjustments to waste-collection arrangements. In some communities, collection schedules have reportedly been reduced outside the Christmas period, with temporary measures put in place for the holidays.
Residents fear that once those seasonal fixes end, the problem will only worsen.
In Trinidad parlance, many see the situation as “cutting off your nose to spoil your face,” trimming costs now, only to risk bigger problems later. Garbage that sits too long attracts rodents, stray animals, and insects, especially in high-density housing areas where waste volumes are already high.
Compounding the problem are reports of disputes between the HDC and some waste-management contractors, including claims related to outstanding payments. While the details of those disputes remain subject to formal resolution, residents say any uncertainty in service delivery shows up immediately on the ground.
For families living in affected communities, the issue is less about contracts and budgets and more about daily life. Parents worry about children playing near accumulated waste. Elderly residents complain about odours and pests. Many feel caught between decisions made far above their heads and conditions they must live with.
Garbage collection may seem mundane, but when it falters, it sends a powerful message. In communities already under pressure, piles of uncollected waste are not just unsightly. They are a reminder that small savings can come at a very visible cost.
