In the wake of last week’s revelation that the landfill is near capacity, the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC) received a cheque valued at EC$126,500 from the Swiss Consulate and Red Cross, today, for the purchase of a retrofitted recyclable truck.
Minister of Health and Environment, Kenneth Darroux, expressed his thanks for the donation, calling it “timely,” and promised that it will contribute greatly to finding more sustainable methods of waste disposal.
“This event couldn’t be more timely, as it comes on the heels of a national clean-up, last Thursday, the 18th of February, and still ongoing, I’ve been informed,” he said. “I would really like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Dominica Red Cross, Mrs. (Kathleen Pinard-) Byrne, and the Swiss Consulate to Dominica for this timely and kind gesture; and, I would like to reassure them that this will go a very long way towards our quest for more sustainable waste disposal system.”
Using figures from the Statistics Division, Darroux explained that in 2009, almost 2.4 million plastic containers were imported in Dominica—a number which increases annually. After Tropical Storm Erika, over 200,000 plastic products were found on-island. These non-biodegradable materials, he said, contribute greatly to the overwhelming capacity at the landfill.
He addressed the amount of waste uncovered at last week’s island-wide clean-up campaign, dubbed ‘National Mosquito Reduction Campaign Day’, and urged citizens to be more mindful and responsible of their management of waste.
“The volume of waste collected, and still being collected from last week’s event, is a grim reminder to each and every one of us—and by that I mean the Government and citizens alike—that we have to come up with much more innovative and sustainable ways to manage our waste, and keep our environment clean,” he stated. “Thus, protecting ourselves from the emerging threats such as the Zika virus, while, at the same time, safeguarding livelihood, especially within the tourism sector, and generating much needed revenue.”
Meantime, Andy Burkard of the Swiss Consulate, stated that it was time for Dominica to address the issue of plastic pollution. He expressed his hope that individuals accept a certain degree of responsibility in waste management.
“Aat the end of it, we all should be responsible enough to put the plastic in another container or somewhere else; and that is the whole idea,” he noted. “I’m really happy that we can tackle the plastic pollution. I think it’s high time we have to deal with it.”
According to Burkard, the donation is to be used to buy a duty-free truck to be retrofitted to contain different compartments for classes of garbage (plastic/glass/tins). Maintenance of the vehicle, education of staff on the use of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) shredder, and a school outreach/education program were mentioned as desired uses of the donation.
Acting Manager of the DSWMC, Florian Mitchel, sent out a plea for citizens to more actively participate in improved waste management by separating household waste into categories.
“That is your involvement as the householder—to ensure that you separate that waste, so when it comes to the landfill, the plastic will be placed where the PET shredder is located; the glass, we have an area we’re going to develop for glass material, so that will be brought to that area; and the cans will be brought to another locations for it to be processed, compacted, and exported,” Mitchel stated.
Mitchel said that the program should be launched by “the third week in March,” beginning in suburban communities, such as Bath Estate, Wallhouse, Canfield, St. Aroment, Castle Comfort, and Loubiere.
This is a great initiative however, who will service this truck when it is purchases? Although the public works has been maligned lately, we seem to forget that you need a team of trained mechanics who are capable of serving these complicated vehicles with several moving parts, plus computers.
If we do not have this part of the equation figured out before the truck is purchased, it will eventually break down and we will find it parked somewhere on the island collecting dust. We have regressed so much from the Dominica that I grew up knowing and loving with all my heart. I read these conversations and most of it sounds like a trip to a far away place called fantasy Island. Poor us.
Will a truck be picking up recyclables in the villages?
I hope my million poundsonaire husband makes a similar donation to the DSWM. Poor Dominica.
Put an s at the end of recyclable so that it does not sound like it’s the truck that is recyclable.
Thanks
Thank you Switzerland, much appreciated that is more than our government doing for Solid Waste. Shame on them.
recycling glass, plastic and cans vital to improving garbage disposal; stores should carry blue or clear plastic bags as done in US for visual sorting on pickup. Great incentive Switzerland. Dominicans do your part to keep your homeland clean.
Recycling is key to waste disposal in this day and age with the vast amount of plastic in particular that is infesting our island. However when one receives a special truck, arrangements must be put in place for its replacement 5, 8 or 10 years down the line. If a visit is to be made to the landfill a number of broken down trucks can be seen there. I hope the drivers of this truck and the supervisors will do what is necessary to make this truck live a full life.
This is the start of a really good dialogue taking place here.
One concern: Even if I separate waste at home if the same truck collects all the waste (food, plastic, etc) in one truck what is the ultimate gain?
good observation …maybe there will be ‘pick up’ days for plastic ,glass etc .that would eliminate the extra work involved in having to separate the garbage when it gets to the landfill