In the midst of last week’s island-wide clean-up campaign, Operations Manager at the Solid Waste Management Corporation, Jahna McLawrence, revealed that the landfill is near capacity.
On Thursday, ‘National Mosquito Reduction Campaign Day’, McLawrence commented that the staff was faced with “more than expected vehicles loaded with white goods and metal.”
“We’re trying our best to make space, in anticipation of [National Mosquito Reduction Campaign Day], we had already tried a clean-up a couple weeks ago. However, these things come in daily… So, we have to try to make additional space, and push additional waste aside to make space for today,” she said.
She noted that in order to rectify the issue, support must be given to the cause, for both short-term and long-term development. She also urged Dominicans to be mindful of the level of waste each person produces and to adopt personal responsibility to reduce waste.
“In a first phase…We need the support of all the stakeholders in the first instance, to get equipment, and to have the system running for those white goods to get a smaller volume, and use less space,” McLawrence stated. “In the…medium term, I would say, is to get the public aware of their habits, and their lifestyles, how they consume, what they buy, how much they buy… We have to be very, very responsible, and aware, and conscious of the way that we are living, because everybody produces waste.”
However, it was underscored that ideas for better waste disposal and storage methods in the long-term are already in place, but lack the necessary funds and support.
“In the long term, Dominica definitely needs a solution for disposal of waste, and storage of waste. So, we’ve put plans already to have a waste sorting facility, recycling facility—all of that is in place, but it’s just the financial support, equipment support, human resource support, for us to get it going.”
Meantime, Acting Manager of the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), Florian Mitchel, called the public’s response to Thursday’s clean-up campaign, “overwhelming.”
“In our tally, we probably have around 100 vehicles coming into the landfill from the morning to now, and we were anticipating somewhere between 100 to 150 within two days,” he said.
However, while encouraging regular clean-ups, he noted that improved machinery is needed at the landfill, to properly manage and store the waste received.
“Landfill application is somewhat bulky waste, white goods—which is stove, fridge, galvanize… In the ideal scenario, we would require a metal compactor; so, when that material comes to the landfill, you extract the compressors, you extract some of the nonferrous material, you bale that material, and then you would export it,” Mitchel stated. “But, presently…due to the fire, [the compactor] got burned down, and we cannot utilize it. So, one of the things we’re looking at, we’re trying to bring a metal compactor on island so we could start to bale the material with a view of exporting it.”
While commending the effort of the general public, Mitchel explained that the environment must be tidied on a regular basis, and not only when disease looms.
What about the environmental tax on vehicular imports? If I recall it’s 10 thousand on vehicles 10 years and older.
Why were these white goods not cut up into smaller parts?
Wonder with what the truck drivers and garbage handlers would have cut up the white goods with….
Why were these goods not cut up into smaller parts?
None of this seems to have been planned properly.
First of all the national day clean-up effort was partly flawed.
I think it should have been done during the period of one week at least. 2 or 3 constituencies or communities per day. That would allow for easier pick-up and hauling to dump site.
sending the entire nation to put out their stuff in one day was a big boo boo.
Everyone on island knows that solid waste doesn’t have de capacity to do a sudden overwhelming pick up even with hired trucks.The dump site would be overwhelmed with activity.
clearing space and making room for material.
Management is fully aware of storage capacity.
management knows their is no compactor at the site even for regular household refuse.
min of education could have been properly coordinated for school clean up.
i think we were running to put a band aid on a sore without disinfecting de sore first.
this is leadership working at its best!!!
So before planning and implementing this massive clean up, didn’t anyone question where the waste was being stored??
It’s noble cause to suggest that the people, including those in the diaspora help source a compactor, but I would think that something of that importance would be a priority for the government. Get money for a compactor before building hotels. I am an independent voter, but I’m saying if exorbitant amount of monies can be spent on an election, a compactor can be acquired. I am confident that there are entrepreneurs in the country that with some assistance would take on the challenge of separating and compacting the white goods for export. The problem is you would have to be of a certain political persuasion to get any assistance. Politics killing Dominican.
FOR LACK OF VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH
Solid Waste Management should/could be privatized. We only have one maybe 2 garbage trucks for the entire island. This is an indication that we NEED a recycling plant here. The french from Martinique were/probably still are willing to help with trucks and a plant but the powers that be here at solid waste did not want to cooperate. They wanted it all for themselves. Just like the geothermal plant when you have too much time wasting, power struggles, some sort of greed it will all go to waste. in this case it is solid waste. we have to start being professional and serious about the rock that we live on. What is it really that we want? how do we really want to see and feel Dominica? when will we seriously begin to do the right thing and not just cover up mishaps and blunders with a quick fix. when will we do a proper job?
Total chaos, lack of planning. Did environmental health dictate to Solid Waste? The same man that was in charge of the landfill before and burn tires now in charge of environmental health. Mosquitoes breeding now at the landfill and all the garbage piles along the main roads. Wonderful sight for tourists too. Sack that useless man running environmental health. No wonder P.M. tells passport customers they don’t have to visit Dominica because they may change their mind when they get here. Boy what a mess.
The landfill needs to be fogged twice weekly for a period of time. The vectors have a safe haven. Watch out!
Where does the government come in all this? Waste management is a very important part of the operation of a country. You’d think that something like this would be taken care of by the government.
Whenever I read about problems in Dominica,be it speeding, littering,fly tipping, loud music,drink driving and the list goes on. It is always about education but never about the enforcement of the law which surely educates people whilst teaching them a haesh lesson in life.
It is about time that we start enacting these laws that we have in this country. If we keep adding that people should take responsibility to do this and do that,guess what,people will do what they want to do and that won’t always be in keeping with the law.
Start using the law and stop asking people to conform. Its utterly ridiculous to keep asking people to do the right thing yet when they don’t they don’t feel the full force of the law.
What incentive have they got to obey the law,NONE.
Can we as Dominicans contribute to a worth cause. Towards a compactor for DSWMC since the one the company had got burnt. If everyone donate and the Private Sector and other sector contribute to this cause. This is not too much to ask as we would all be contributing to curb the spread of Mosquito borne diseases.
That’s a fantastic idea, but to my knowledge government collects money for “clearing ” vehicles i.e $3000 or $5000(subject to correction) which should go to the DSWC. Other environmental charges are collected by government for the sole purpose, by law, for waste management. These monies are “supposed” to go to the DSCW, but unfortunately it seems this monies go to the consolidated account. It seems monies collected for the purpose of management of the environment is used for other purposes. Hope things are corrected we can more efficiently manage our environment. We also have a role to play to make Dominica and clean and green gem of the Caribbean.
I agree. If the P.M. can fork out $250,000 to a dubious farmers’ oganisation in his own constituency he should make funds available to buy a new compacter without delay. As the P.M. pointed out these farmers do not pay tax but we all do pay environmental taxes should be used to keep our environment clean in the first place.
Since monies can be raised quickly as seen in some recent thons. Can we the people of Dominica contribute to a worthy cause … A Compactor for DSWMC (the one they had got burnt in the fire).
Let us do something for ourselves and to protect us from the threat of mosquito breeding.
I don’t think this is too much to ask for.
The sale of TWO Dominica passports can achieve this, and a little extra to spare. Perhaps you should be speaking to the Agents.
So how is the white goods going to be stored? The compactor is no more. How does DSWMC plan to cover or deal with that heavy influx of white goods. remember if it cannot be compacted, it means that the hazard has been moved from all over to one central spot. Therfore whilst the other areas have been cleaned, the landfill becomes the one area which is also close to residential areas. What happens then since the the goods will collect water?
Everything has a price. People need to start paying monthly fee for waste disposal. We have to take pride in our country.
Rycle is key. Also need a properly designed landfill where methane gas derived from decomposition of organic waste can be piped and harness for domestic use. Expensive at first but good in long run. Will create jobs, and revenue.
Don’t worry, the Minister of national security will declare the whole of Fond Cole a no-fly zone . That will teach these damn mosquitoes!
If my memory serves me right, there is such a fee being collected by village councils.
Driving around the island…the amount if white goods that still on the roadsides to collect…well well well
Poor planning you call that. The Health Minister acted out of panic and did not think of the effects that his call to action would have, neither did he think about other aspects of his plan. These include timely transportation arrangements and space to receive/sort/store white goods at the landfill. I have placed waste outside my door and besides the eye-sore part of things, it rained recently and some of the white goods are keeping water. It would have been better to target the entire island over a 2 week period. That is enough time for collection etc. Simple logistics and thoughtful planning.
What happens next…poor planning these waste and non-degradable stuff, should have never been dumped in this location. The Hospital is a few minutes away… there are schools, a port where the cruise ship is docked…are we not thinking ahead, instead of rushing to do things, just for doing things.. A crater should be dug into an unused portion of government land and these metal/steel should be buried and covered… in that way the mosquitoes would not have found a place to continue breeding… Also, I believe outside help should be consider to dispose of these items… We need to start thinking from the top not the other way around…
It was a very good move, but the end result is dangerous