Garbage Collectors Complain Of Low Income

Some rubbish collectors have complained that with the emergence of the activity of Zoomlion Ghana Waste Management Company Limited, their businesses as rubbish collectors, is gradually diminishing. According to them, due to the high unemployment situation, they decided to collect rubbish from house to house, in order to get some source of income for a decent living. However since Zoomlion came into existence, some of their customers now dump their rubbish in the trucks of Zoomlion, when they do not get there in time. According to one Agbeshi Quarshie, even though the business is not that lucrative, it is better than not doing anything at all. He said they would not have gotten the opportunity to do this kind of work, but the reluctance and laziness of people going to the main dumping site, gave them the opportunity. He noted that they were aware and conscious of the health risks, so as much as possible they try and wear gloves or nose masks to protect them from any kind of diseases. To Madam Ruth Adobea, who works in one of the security agencies, she has no choice than to be a customer of these rubbish collectors. According to her, the Zoomlion truck does come to her neighbourhood, but sometimes due to the low sound of the truck, she does not hear them, therefore, her garbage keeps on piling. Due to the nature of her work, she sometimes has to leave home early, so never gets to meet the trucks of Zoomlion. According to Madam Kokor Donkor, she prefers the petty rubbish collectors, because they pay on a daily basis, and even not that much, because the quantity of one�s rubbish determines how much he or she has to pay, unlike Zoomlion where one is expected to pay a fixed amount for their services. However, according to Mr. Joseph Quainoo, it would be better if these rubbish collectors were totally eliminated, as they make the environment stinky. He says since they do not move as fast as the Zoomlion trucks, and stay at a particular place for quite a long time, therefore the stench of their garbage stays around for a long time. He says what irritates him the most, is when he sees them dragging their rubbish in the midst of people very early in the morning. According to him, one of these rubbish collectors was in a hurry crossing a street, and as a result his truck overturned right in the middle of the street, causing an immense traffic hold up that early morning.