Stop burning garbage

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In an article in The Sunday Gleaner on July 23, headlined ‘Gas stoves ignite cancer concerns’, we are warned about the emission of benzene by gas stoves and that thousands of unsuspecting Jamaicans are at risk. Why this sudden concern when every day people burn garden waste and garbage, the smoke from which also contains benzene and many other nasty chemicals which cause respiratory illnesses, including cancer. The people who burn their waste think they are doing the right thing, and do not believe that the smoke is harmful. Those of us who know it is harmful have no choice – we have no other air to breathe.

More public education is needed on the dangers of open burning and alternative methods of disposing of garden waste, for example, composting. Garbage should never be burnt, and garbage collection needs to be given a higher priority by the Government.

It is hard to change people’s habits, but in the long run an improvement in health would be to everyone’s advantage.

HELEN WILLIAMS