The challenges being faced by the country’s sole sanitary landfill are posing problems for the Solid Waste Management Corporation because the volume of waste being disposed off there is increasing every year.
The company must also deal with a decrease in revenue to run daily operations.
That’s according to its general manager Bristol Lawrence, whose observations come as the corporation is celebrating a week of activities beginning on Monday.
He said the increase in waste volumes is causing a major headache for operations at Solid Waste.
“In 2009, total waste collected was 17,109 tons, in 2010, 19,317 and in 2011, 20,434. This represents an average of 57 tons daily. This increase represents, no doubt, some new challenges. It increases the load to the sanitary laborers. It also represents a challenge to our trucks and equipment at our landfills. The harsh reality is at the same time we are confronted with these challenges, there is a greater challenge with the decrease in the mainstream revenue to run the daily operations of the organization,” he said.
He said the decrease has to do with the drop in environmental levy associated with the movement of the cruise industry.
He however said despite the challenges, there are many positive items to report.
“We have seen the increase in payment at the landfills. This means persons are taking responsibility and disposing of their waste properly. We have seen an increase in resident contributions in garbage collection fee. The community spirit across the island has been overwhelming, especially towards hazardous waste from the environment. We have seen the removal of about 600 derelict vehicles and over 10,600 used lead acid battery from the environment,” the solid waste boss said.
Meantime the Corporation has launched several activities throughout the week, which will end with a fun and sports day on Saturday.
Some of the activities include workshops, radio programs to focus on staff, a health fair at the Fond Cole Landfill, a fishing competition and a fun and sports day.
Several staff members were also awarded at Monday’s opening ceremony.
They include Abraham Remy, Celia Martin, Cornelius Roberts, Frampton Charles, Florent Mitchell, Halaire Jno Bapstitse, Ivinia Luke, Jefferson Bontiff, Oliver Antoine, David Paul, Ann Marie Jno Baptiste, Serge Lawrence, James Anselm, Shavon Blaize and Alvin Brumant.
The week of activities is being held under the theme “The sustainable way to solid waste management”.
Why doesn’t Solid Waste start a compost project?
All you not seeing d size of the PS of Health? Obesity at large
thats the best comment that you could post
GREAT JOB, GREAT OPENING CEREMONY.
One way to increase income is to have everyone pay their garbage fees not just Goodwill people alone. Most people in Castle Comfort not paying, Wall House, Pointe Michel, Canefield to name a few. Be consistent in collecting revenue. It is not just for some to pay while others have their garbage collected free. Step up!
A friend introduced me to simple composting a few months back and since then the garbage I put out to Solid Waste has dropped to less than a third of it’s prior volume.
It also does wonders for my small vegetable garden!
It is good that you are doing that and I think you need to introduce other people to this methord. It is also important that the Solid Waste people put in place the other things that they are saying,putting all plastics one way bottles another and other waste that will decompose one wasy. This will help in this problem that you now have. The law is in place for people that do not pay you all need to stop the talk and walk the walk and things will get in place have a good day bye
congrats to the solid waste workers. Keep up the good work.
in the 21st century, landfill design issues of basic conceptualization. just so sad and mediocre!
A recently built landfill in a vicinity of communities plus in the course of breeze and statically projected…! where is the empirical data to justify the construction of this landfill? data should have been collected so as to know that garbage collection is on an increase also a study of demographics. the people that commissioned this landfill should all be jailed from the minister down. now we still wonder why our graduates are fleeing the country when all this mediocrities are allowed.
Cleaning is next to Godly- ness. therefor its very important we find ways to maintain a clean Dominica. We should find ways to place value from our waste materials. EG: Rubber,plastic containers,ect. Lets take our solid waste to the next level.