Properly constructed landfill being proposed
Minister for Health and Social Development Marlon Penn said a properly constructed landfill site is being explored for the disposal of waste in the territory.
Minister Penn expressed that this landfill site will be part of a comprehensive strategy the government is formulating as its new approach to solid waste management in the territory.
According to Penn, the ideal course of action would be to discontinue the unsustainable practice of hillside dumping in the territory and construct a properly engineered landfill and materials recovering facility in a new location.
He told legislators in the House of Assembly (HOA) last week that the recovery and development agency (RDA) has been tasked with proposing viable locations and designing this new landfill.
The facility at Pockwood Pond, he said, could then be converted into a tertiary treatment plant with backup equipment that will provide redundancy to the main landfill site.
High priority on resolving incinerator issue
Meanwhile, Penn said a high priority has been placed on resolving the current garbage situation at the Pockwood Pond incinerator.
A fire at the Pockwood Pond incinerator that occurred in February caused extensive damage to the facility and replacement parts have been slow in coming.
“That fire destroyed the incinerator’s main control panel along with its electrical system, and contributed to material fatigue in certain sections of the building,” Penn told the HOA last week.
But Penn said his Ministry is in the process of procuring the necessary replacement parts from the equipment manufacturer, Consutech Systems LLC.
According to the Health Minister, Consutech had already been contracted to supply a replacement Quench Tank and Ash Conveyor, along with a Heat Exchanger and three (3) Transfer Rams.
He said these parts were all of required to bring the Incinerator back online.
Additionally, he noted that steps are being taken to purchase a factory replacement control panel, which he described as another critical piece of equipment.
He cautioned that, although discussions have been had about expediting the process, things will take some time.
“It is important to bear in mind, however, that the process of fabricating, shipping, and installing the new parts will take several months; particularly in light of disruptions in the supply chain affecting key components,” Penn said.
Penn said all the items are expected to be shipped and installed before the end of this year.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Mark my words, nothing will happen.
here we go!
Lets hope he take it some where in his district
They are turning that mountain down Pockwood Pond into a serious eyesore with garbage. Like we building a freaking temple of garbage to the sky!! Cutting out natural beauty to paint it with garbage! Who in their right minds does this?? Developing countries go the extra yards to hide their garbage in landfills and make sure it has a green outer appearance. Not us though, we kill the greenery to showcase trash! The garbabe bins around the place are disgusting with pallets, mattresses and all sorts of other nonsense strewn outside them.
We are too backwards in this place. Where is the plan to handle the trash??
agree…. also a major fire hazard burning garbage above the ec fuel tanks. what if a strong wind blow a spark down there….lord help us all
I don’t believe it…..”steps are being taken to purchase a factory replacement control panel”.
Why hasn’t this been done already??????
Seems like there is a ‘script’ in each of the ministries that these tools read verbatim; without any care of thought! The company is terrible and has given the people of this territory a bum deal and bad rap. Seems like business as usual while we all suffer. Next!
Agree with @radio rich.
Proper under whose standards ?
Maybe that old idea of hauling all the BVI’s trash to this little island west of JVD and reducing it there for a land fill is worth re-visiting.
Puerto Rico, St.Thomas and St.Croix doesn’t have an incinerator nor a eyesore on a hill
Apples and organges. PR and St. Croix have a lot of land. St. Thomas landfill is low on space. That said, the place to start is with a proper waste management plan and policy. Minimize waste, segregage it, recycle where possible, etc. Nothing that can’t be done if we put our minds to it. But all this costs money. Put your hand up if you’re good for a $ 50/mo garbage bill to pay for all this…..Hmmm, not so many seem to want to pay. There’s why the place is a mess. We import everything, including the latest gadgets. It’s all packaged and on pallets, waste waiting to occupy landfill space in short supply but we think it’s someone else’s responsibility. I’d go with that if you can prove you neither poop nor pee. Waste management is a community responsibility. We all need to do the right thing if we want to clean the place up.
Please, let’s recycle!!! It’s the 21st century.
Recycling is a great idea but the term implies it’s free as in re-use. Bottles can indeed be re-used, but someone has to collect them and wash them. The reality is that it costs money that many are not willing to pay, just like there would be massive opposition to monthly household garbage. For example, grinding up glass is a good idea but besides collecting bottles, someone has to obtain, operate and maintain a crusher (which will need power), then find someone who wants to use it, and then figure out how to deliver it.
The Minister just take over that Ministry wait to see what will happen . Patience my people let us not move from one extreme to the next
Casting blind and deaf ears to one of over zealous
ALKEBULAN MINDS RECYCLING INC. IS BEING AVOIDED BY THE SO CALLED POWERS OF THE BVI. ASK THEM WHY!!!!!
Same crap from at least 3 different ministers in 3 different governments. NDP Skelton, VIP Malone, Unity Penn. Same equipment, same company, same lies and the West End of Tortola still suffers.. BUT who the H–l cares… NOBODY! A brand new state of the art incinerator should have been built years ago!