Miami Trash Trucks Heading to Haiti

Trucks courtesy of Waste Management and the city donated to Port de Paix

Mayor Guillet Salvador had a big smile on his face after he was given the keys to a couple of well worn but mechanically sound trash trucks, courtesy of the city of Miami.

This was a big deal for the Mayor of Port de Paix, Haiti. His city had been getting by with just one truck and has seen a huge population explosion following the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Two more heavy duty trash trucks are going to be on the street as soon as they arrive in Port de Paix. 

"As Haiti struggle to recover and rebuild, the generosity of cities, businesses and individuals in South Florida remains a critical lifeline," Mayor Salvador told Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. 

The City of Miami joined forces with Waste Management to answer the call for sanitation help in the wake of  the January earthquake.

Waste Management donated the two trucks and a check for $25,000 to transport the trucks and to provide initial maintenance.  In addition, some of the funds will be used to purchase hundreds of trash receptacles, wheelbarrows, shovels and other supplies for the city.

Officials from the company said that they employ more than 500 employees of Haitian descent many of whom lost family members in the earthquake. 

"Waste Management came through," said Mayor Regalado. "This is extraordinary, this is gonna make a difference in a city that has been overwhelmed by the earthquake in Port-au-Prince."

Port de Paix was impacted by the earthquake not by damage but by an influx of refugees from the southern part of the country, including Port-au-Prince. The north coast city has seen the population jump from 100,000 to estimates of 300,000.  The city's infrastructure has been overwhelmed.

With the Haitian recovery going very slowly, Mayor Salvador does not expect many of his new residents to return to their homes anytime soon.

"We greatly appreciate the City of Miami and Waste Management partnering to assist us in our time of our great need," said Salvador. 

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