CHISAMBA Town Council has planned to increase its garbage collection from 480 to 720 tons this year in a bid to enhance the health and environmental safety of the public.

Chisamba Town Council Health Inspector Kabwe Chileshe says the programme is targeting densely populated trading areas such as the bus station, taxi rank and the market premises.

ZANIS reports that Mr Chileshe was speaking recently during an epidemic preparedness meeting held at the council.

“We have increased garbage collection from the current 40 tons to 60 tons on a monthly basis,” Mr Chileshe said.

He, however, lamented the high levels of indiscriminate waste disposal experienced in open spaces of the Central Business District (CBD) and along the Great North Road.

Mr Chileshe has since called on stakeholders to intensify sensitisation and be vigilant to report any illegal dumping of waste to the council.

“Further, we want to undertake food and water sampling in open water sources. We also want to provide health education to open market traders in the district,” he said.

Mr Chileshe said the local authority will this year also intensify health inspection and patrols in both restaurants and bars to enforce public health regulations.