The fee for dumping used hazardous oil at the Fond Cole landfill has been waived since, according to officials, it was a deterrent to persons wanting to properly dispose of the toxic substance.
Citizens had to pay EC$5.00 per gallon of oil and about EC$275 per drum and if collected by the garbage collectors, a dollar extra would be added.
Speaking at a workshop for garage personnel on Hazardous Waste Management at the Red Cross Office, General Manger of the Dominica solid waste Management Corp.(DSWMC), Bristol Lawrence, said the decision was taken because the initiative was not encouraging.
‘We realized that these charges were a disincentive and were not encouraging people to come forward to bring their oil to the corporation to be disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. We looked at it and we agreed to make changes that would make some of the garages and not only garages but home users who change oil, to take it to the corporation and we can further dispose of it in a better way’, he said.
According to Lawrence, improvements have been made and a new program to provide a storage containers to garage owners, is being introduced.
“Today we can say we have made a lot of progress in that regard where presently at the landfill we no longer charge a dollar for any oil that comes in. So this $275 to zero dollars is a great improvement and what we do also we are looking to give a service to all garages where we can provide you with a storage container do a collection for you for $30.” he stated.
He added, “We need to find ways to combat this challenge and the corporation policy right now is to see how we can maximize and put greater emphasis on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and this program seeks to do just that where we can identify ways and work with new partners in finding opportunities out of these challenges.”
Addressing the same workshop, landfill manager, Marcus Francis, said the DSWMC is continually seeking ways to mange and dispose all waste in an environmentally sound manner, “whether it is through recycling or whether it is through export that the waste can be dealt with so that the useful life of the landfill can be extended.”
The workshop focused on how used oils can negatively impact us as human beings and participants were also given tips on how to properly dispose hazardous waste.
The workshop was conducted by Dominica Solid Waste Management Corp. (DSWMC) and the Environmental Health Department under the theme ‘Our Environment, Our Responsibility, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’.
Dno leave my comment tranquil.
Len me ask again. Is there a fee waiver for dumping those rotten and corrupt politicians at the Labass? Do I need double containment so as to totally protect us from some of the polluted politicians in our government.
It sounds good, but I am not at all convinced that the oil being collected is being stored in an environmentally safe way. I am challenge the facilities manager to open the landfill to the media. The management dear not let us see whats up at the landfill. Talk is cheep, it is the nature of the action that counts. What waste products are being recycled and what percentage of the waste is being collected. What percentage ends up in the rivers and gullies. Give us this info and we will tell you what kind of job is being paid for.
Boy that not making sense moving from $275 to $0. Dominicans too like freennes. The landfield operaters should put down their foot and let the garage personnel pay or reduce the price but not remove the price all together and even provide drums for them to put the waste oil.
Everything comes with a cost. Who is going to pay for the drums and the upkeep of the landfield? The already burden taxpayers? That is if the garages paying income tax?
Oh boy…what a sight eh!
What is being done with the oil? Is it recycled or dumped?
Good step in the right direction. Good incentive…
Good morning. Why are we dumping hazardous waste (Oil) in an open pit like this. This oil should be recycled because sooner or later it will leak into the drinking water. I know we don’t have recycling capacity but we can have some type arrangement with a foreign company to pick up this type of oil otherwise in ten or twenty years we will be facing serious health issues from this.
Let me see if i understand that well. “Not only garages but home users who change oil take it to the coporation.” Ok! let’s continue….However, the “storage containers will be given (only)to garages.” Make sense? What made more sense to me is that, Dominica wants to “export” trash/garbage, and want to import water. People, which would be more profitable for Dominica, to export garbage or to export water?
dominica can do nonesence wee
watever
Bori’s favorite codfish variety store!!
Good move. Used oil should be recycled and other hazardous materials need to have a drop off place that is free. No more disposing of hazardous materials in a landfill where it can contaminate land and water. Useless air pollution also needs to stop. Live clean and take responsibility for toxic materials because clean-ups are expensive, more expensive than prevention measures taken at the beginning.
There need to be recycling stations around the island. It started and now I don’t see it anymore.
Have they ever thought of setting up an electric generating plant that runs off burning all the waste going into the landfill, do they also have re-cycle bins set up at homes to keep plastic and glass going into the land fills, cardboard and paper can also be re-cycled too they do that in European countries and some US cities.
We really have to protect the soul and water, because, the foods we eat, the water we drink, the fish we eat etc, and we human beings were created by the creator from the dust of the earth.
So if we contaminate the soil, we will all pay the consequence, by death and disease. We must do our very best to protect nature, because once we destroy nature, most of the time it is irreversible. Thank God we come from and well balance country. {NATURALLY}. Lets enjoy and protect our Wonderful, Lovely, Beautiful, DOMINICA.
You see this is why this country will not move forward. we want to many things for free and refuse to take responsibility for our action.why? So when you allow no charge. how is going to be responsible for the cost of actual disposal.the Tax paying public or another loan?
Their is going to come a time when all the free stuff we like is gonna bite us in the rear.
I agree they shouldve left a small fee per size of container. but in all i’m glad they removed it. it’s a start. Now about that recycling initiative they started in Bath Estate….