The Urban and Household Sanitation Authority has launched a special citywide waste collection drive. The operation responds to a seasonal surge in garbage that doubles daily tonnage during the Christmas period. Crews began work early this Wednesday morning, starting in the Carrasquilla sector and moving toward the historic Panamá Viejo district.
Officials say the capital’s daily waste output jumps from roughly 1,500 tons to nearly 3,000 tons during the holidays. The special initiative will cover all 26 districts of Panama City. It focuses on collecting both regular household refuse and large, bulky items that residents often discard at year’s end.
Workers Issue Direct Appeal for Public Cooperation
During the operation, sanitation workers made a direct plea for resident cooperation. They asked people to only bring trash to the curb when the collection truck is in their immediate area. This simple change would prevent bags from piling up on sidewalks for extended periods.
“Citizens should take out the garbage when the truck passes, not after, so the work is more effective,” said Cintia Edwards, a worker with the Sanitation Authority. [Translated from Spanish]
Edwards also highlighted significant safety risks her team faces daily. She specifically warned about improperly disposed sharp objects like broken glass. These items cause frequent cuts and injuries to collection staff handling the bags.
The authority urged residents to separate glass carefully. They recommend placing shards inside cardboard boxes or clearly marked bags. Edwards also alerted the public to the danger of discarded medical syringes and glucose testing needles. These pose a serious health hazard to workers.
Operation Targets Seasonal Bulky Waste Surge
A key goal of the special drive is managing an influx of large discarded items. The holiday season traditionally sees residents clearing out old furniture, appliances, and other bulky household goods. The special collection crews are equipped to handle this voluminous waste stream.
Authorities reiterated their call for public collaboration. Proper waste disposal, timed with truck arrivals, keeps city streets cleaner. It also directly reduces occupational hazards for the collection teams. Effective solid waste management relies heavily on this partnership between residents and municipal services.
The special collection operation is scheduled to continue progressively across other districts in the coming days. The initiative underscores the increased pressure on urban services during peak seasonal periods. Panama’s sanitation challenges were recently highlighted in a separate telemetro reporta on systemic issues.
Weather Presents Additional Operational Challenge
The cleanup effort coincides with ongoing rainy weather across the country. The Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología (IMHPA) forecasts intermittent showers and possible downpours for Wednesday. These conditions can complicate outdoor collection work and lead to faster decomposition of uncollected organic waste.
Forecasters predict sporadic morning rains in areas including Panama West, Panama, and Darien. Isolated afternoon showers, some potentially heavy, are expected in Veraguas, the Azuero Peninsula, Panama East, and Darien. The rest of the country will remain cloudy with occasional rainfall.
These weather patterns are typical for the season but add a layer of difficulty to the expanded sanitation operations. Wet conditions can make streets slippery for workers and slow the progress of collection vehicles navigating city neighborhoods.
Panama City’s sanitation authority has indicated that similar nighttime operations for bulk item collection may be implemented if needed. Maintaining cleanliness during high-volume periods remains a persistent logistical challenge for the capital. The success of this special drive depends largely on changing public habits, even temporarily.