Santo Domingo.- Within the framework of the commemoration of World Environment Day, a team from this media outlet took to the streets of Santo Domingo to ask citizens what they consider to be the main environmental problem currently facing the Dominican Republic.
The response was practically unanimous: solid waste, commonly known as trash, constitutes the greatest environmental concern for the population.
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During the tour, numerous citizens stated that the accumulation of waste in streets, avenues, and public spaces continues to be a visible problem that affects health, the image of the communities, and the environment.
Some interviewees attributed the situation to deficiencies in waste collection services by the different municipalities in the country.
“Often the trucks go several days without passing by, which causes trash to accumulate on the corners and improvised dumps to form,” expressed Luis Ramírez, a motorcycle taxi driver, one of those consulted.
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However, other citizens considered that the problem does not lie solely with the authorities, but also in the lack of awareness of the population.
“We have to acknowledge that many people throw trash in the streets, in the gutters, and even in the rivers. We lack more education and civic culture,” pointed out Cándida Guzmán, another interviewee.
Likewise, several of the participants took advantage of the cameras to send awareness messages to the population, urging people to deposit waste in trash cans, respect collection schedules, and contribute to the maintenance of cleaner spaces.
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“If every citizen does their part, we can have a cleaner city. We cannot expect the authorities to do everything,” stated one of the respondents.
World Environment Day is celebrated every June 5th with the goal of fostering awareness and action in favor of protecting the natural environment. In the Dominican Republic, solid waste management continues to be one of the main environmental challenges, a reality that, according to the citizens consulted, requires the joint commitment of authorities and the population to achieve sustainable solutions.
