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Gov’t proposes mobile incinerator to fix BVI’s solid waste problem

A mobile incinerator

With the incinerator at Pockwood Pond inoperable because of major fire damage, Health Minister Carvin Malone announced that the government is looking at mobile incinerators to help tackle the waste problem in the territory.

Speaking at a special announcement press conference on Friday, Malone said the only other option would be to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair the incinerators that the government currently has. However, according to the Minister, the issue with this is that a number of the parts required for repair have proven difficult for the government to obtain.

Malone said these parts include the scrubber and the control panel which was burnt in the last fire.

“We have asked the RDA to look in terms of a number of mobile incinerators which when purchased, when installed, when commissioned would be able to handle the particular waste here in Tortola, the waste on Virgin Gorda, and the waste on Anegada,” Malone said.

“In so doing, we would be able to look at it immediately when they are doing this and have the permanent fix. We would then be able to continue to specify whether it is waste to energy, whether it is incineration or some other new technology,” the Minister of Health added.

Malone said the request for proposals for the mobile incinerators will soon be released and the person who wins the contract would be able to do their work on Tortola and then the government would be able to transfer additional mobile facilities to Virgin Gorda, Anegada and if necessary, Jost Van Dyke so the problem can be permanently fixed.

“This is a government working for you to ensure your economy is safe. You must do your part and in doing so, we will have the Virgin Islands that is free from spontaneous combustion. Although you have this all over the world in the first world, second world and third world countries; we are not just any ordinary part of the world,” Malone said.

“We are the Virgin Islands. We are dealing with BVI Love, we are dealing with clean environments and we will continue to do whatever is required in order to keep our economy and environment sustained in a healthy manner,” he added.

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22 Comments

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  1. WTF says:

    Another bandaid from the VIP government.

    Like 22
  2. Mobile incinerators says:

    In the war in Iraq these were abbreviated to IED or improvised explosive device. Not good for the BVI.

    Like 14
  3. Thank,s says:

    Thank,s for burning garbage today easter friday

    Like 14
  4. BVI Love at its best says:

    All we can smell in west end on this good Friday is burning Trash. Its horrible and unacceptable. Drove past pockwood pond and its just a large cloud of black smoke!!

    Like 18
  5. Caribbean Girl says:

    Why we don’t consider and invest in recycling? Incinerators??? Bad idea. This is the 21st century, my friends! We need to move the BVI to a higher level of living, please.

    Like 18
  6. Inflamed says:

    Drove past dump last night place stunk of some kind of fuel they were obviously using to start the fire smelt like barbecue lighter fluid !

    Like 12
  7. Managing director says:

    There is a more concise, purpose driven, environmentally friendly plan that Alkebulan Minds Recycling Inc. Had on the table with over 100 jobs to be created. Contact the only company in yhe territory willinh to fully address the waste issue in the BVI. [email protected] THE BVI IS IN A DIRE SITUATION. the government is putting themselves in a very dangerous position when fighting against/ ignoring the environmental and public health of residents in usvi and bvi who are affected daily!!!

    Like 11
  8. Wow says:

    Bunch of hypicrite.
    Every weekend or holyday it,s like that.no body looking.lets burn a little more

    Like 10
  9. I’m for it if… says:

    Can we have one; just a single unit if it can handle ALL the solid waste in the HOA. I’d it takes more than one, due to the volume of solid waste we have occupying the HOA.

    That aside, what is the maintenance cost(s) and timelines for procurement, installation and duration to be used until longer-term green option is completed? Waste to energy and what about organic waste reduction?

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  10. Hon. Fahie says:

    Mobile incinerators cannot handle the bulk of trash on any of the Islands. RDA research options for new industrial incinerators please, we need them to last for 30 to 50 years

    Like 11
  11. Who care says:

    Not Fahie that,s for sure.

  12. Guess What? says:

    We need to commend those of us offering advice on how to solve the problem of waste disposal in BVI. I am appalled by those who are giving the impression that, as usual, Andrew Fahie is incompetent and is the cause of the problems at the Incinerator. Can we have more details about the mobile incinerator? What volume of waste will it handle? How environment friendly is it? Does it have cost advantage? Will the parts be readily available? In the meantime, I recommend that we redesign the thrash collection points. Every household should have more than one thrash Bag. One for glass bottles, one for paper and paper products and the rest in another bad. The glass wastes, paper and paper products will generate income to offset other waste disposals

  13. Think about it says:

    1. How long would they last?
    2. You can’t burn everything people put in the dumpsters. Who is going to sort it out? And, what happens to the waste that can’t be incinerated?
    3. How will the emissions be controlled?

    What is needed is a comprehensive long term policy along the lines of minimizing waste coming in, re-using what can be re-used, composting, recycling, and disposal, along with universal community support. Incineration is not the answer (just look what happens here). All this costs money. Hands up everyone who’d pay $50/month for it.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  14. Still says:

    Still they dont have to poison us untill they fine a solution

  15. ffs says:

    We DONT NEED ANY INCINERATORS

    Poisoning the people is not an acceptable solution to waste disposal. In fact the air has never been as fresh as when the incinerator was out of commission.

    STOP THE BURNING!

    This fires on the hills are ridiculous and will indiscriminately cause long lasting respiratory problems.

  16. ... says:

    land fill until we reach rock

  17. Popeye says:

    Imagine if we only had a plan? There is no long term infrastructure planning going on here. Why not create one? A plan that involves living in the 21st Century in an environmentally sustainable way. A plan that includes generating power from the wind and the sun. A plan that incentivizes everyone to generate and store power on a new distributed grid. A plan to increase our internet speeds and lower the costs. A plan rebuild our schools. A plan to rebuild all of our roads. Let’s create a long term plan.

  18. Hi says:

    Thanks for thr smoky weekend,we apreciate

  19. Seriously says:

    We already have two recycling companies here in the BVI. Give Julie Schwartz at Green and Clean VI the budget for VG and Anegada and Green VI the budget for Tortola and Jost.

    If you don’t want to do that buy a large sorting plant and put it at Cox heath with a barge dock. Bring it in, sort it and ship it out.
    The BVI is so behind.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  20. hmm says:

    this the best Malone could come up with? A FAILURE

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