Scrap metal sites report expected this week

The Industry Minister, Anthony Hylton is this week expecting a report from the team assessing the three multi-user sites selected as central facilities for the Scrap Metal Trade.

The team comprises the Factories Corporation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Customs Department.

The Factories Corporation took over the operation of the sites earlier this month and has been conducting inspections and other preparatory work with the Customs Department and the police.

They are trying to bring the sites up to the required standard.

The sites are C & M Recycling and David Scrap Limited in Kingston and Kurbiton Recycling in Clarendon.

Although the findings of the team reviewing the three scrap metal sites are not yet known, Hylton is standing by his announcement late last year that the trade will re-open this month.

There have been calls from a wide cross section of the society to ban the trade in scrap metal because of widespread infrastructure theft.

But Hylton maintains that all efforts have been made to ensure that the new trade is tightly operated with stringent regulations and appropriate penalties for non-compliance.

The chairman of the Factories Corporation, Clive Fagan, has described the process of preparing the scrap metal sites as rigorous.

He also says the infrastructure, systems and technological support are in place to ensure the efficient operation of the trade.

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