In our first stakeholder workshop, we engaged with national government agencies, local businesses, and our community partners to discuss opportunities for the institutional development of the Cassava Piece Environmental Wardens. We also explored possible logistical linkages between their activities and those of government agencies and local businesses.

The environmental wardens have taken responsibility for the management of waste in the community. Currently, they are supported by the Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), but the funding for the program is finite. NSWMA has expressed uncertainty about ongoing financial support for the program, especially since 3,800 permanent positions have recently been added to their roster, excluding the wardens.

To sustain the services provided by the wardens, additional income-generating avenues must be explored. Workshop participants emphasized that, under Jamaica’s current legislative frameworks, developing the environmental wardens into an autonomous community organization would allow them to access certain benefits. This structure would create a channel through which the NSWMA could continue its support, while giving the wardens financial autonomy to seek alternative sources of income.

Participants also noted that the current hyper-centralized approach to solid waste management is not suited to self-built communities like Cassava Piece. The workshop explored ways that government agencies—particularly NSWMA—could better coordinate with the decentralized activities of the environmental wardens.

Environmental Wardens Charette

There are currently three environmental wardens, each responsible for a particular zone within the community. They perform various waste management and enforcement tasks but lack the necessary infrastructure to deliver services at the level required for a healthy, productive environment.

During the charette and a community tour, we discussed the wardens' work routines, identified key problem areas, and envisioned infrastructure to support and expand their work.

Waste Trolley

A critical need identified was a reliable mechanism for waste transportation. The wardens currently share one 114L wheelie bin, which is poorly suited to the terrain and necessitates multiple trips. From this discussion, a new trolley scheme was proposed:

• Wire mesh welded to a steel frame
• Handlebars and access doors
• Three pneumatic hand truck wheels to navigate uneven roads
• Air refillable at a nearby gas station

Communal Waste Bins & Transfer Points

At present, wardens rely on loose steel drums for waste collection, often placed at main intersections. These frequently overflow and become de facto "above-gully dumpsites."

Following the workshop, we proposed communal bins sized to hold one week's worth of waste per region. Wardens would use trolleys to transport this waste to transfer points at the community's edge.

Proposed Community Bin Locations:

• 1: Glen Drive, across from Block Factory (Custom 1000L bin x9)
• 2: Beside TJ & King Game Shop (800L bin x4)
• 3–10: Additional bins near the footbridge, Maya’s Meat Mart, Sashi’s, the barbershop, and other key sites.

Transfer Points:

Located on the periphery for easier NSWMA access. These include:

• 11: At the gully ramp
• 12: Near the unfinished building in Manor View
  Each skip has:
• A 7500L capacity
• Top openings for garbage deposits
• Side doors for NSWMA pickup and maintenance
• Covers to reduce odors

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Public Realm Improvements

The environmental wardens also emphasized the need to transform the community’s relationship with the gully. Currently perceived as both drainage and waste infrastructure, it must be reimagined as a potential public space system.

To begin this shift, four small "parklets" will be paired with community bins. These are intended as gathering spaces for residents to sit, play dominoes, and converse. Adjacent buildings must be equipped with rainwater catchment systems to irrigate vegetation.

Public Space Locations:

1. Near TJ & King Game Shop – Concrete benches with wood finish, shaded by small trees
2. Beside the footbridge – Benches facing each other with a large tree in between
3. In front of Sashi’s – Simple concrete benches
4. Across the gully from the ramp – Additional proposed parklet site

Each parklet aims to enhance the quality of communal life while supporting ecological infrastructure.

Community Design Workshop

In our most recent workshop, we invited broader community participation to present our ideas and gather feedback. A key focus was understanding the local context of each intervention site.

Land in Cassava Piece is governed more by informal, dynamic claims than by official documentation. This workshop thus served a dual purpose: it helped define space for environmental warden operations and public realm improvements, and it also acted as a space for claim-making within the community.

While a single workshop cannot resolve all perspectives or challenges, it has laid the foundation for ongoing dialogue. Moving forward, continuous community engagement will be critical to building consensus around the proposed waste management infrastructure and shared public spaces.

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