Statement
STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE VINCENT O. WHEATLEY
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
AT THE NINTH SITTING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTH HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
TUESDAY, 5TH MARCH 2024
Waste Management Update
Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to provide this Honourable House with an update of our waste management initiatives. This year, the Department of Waste Management’s objective is to strengthen our waste management infrastructure. In order to achieve this, the following critical areas are being addressed.
Work on the incinerator continues to progress, the damaged parts have been disassembled from the structure, the transfer rams have been completed and received, the control panel is 90% completed, and the quench tank and ash conveyor are completed and should arrive in the Territory by the end of this month. However, Madam Speaker, the heat exchange is experiencing some delays, which we hope to have rectified in short order. Additionally, work has begun on the incinerator building to ensure the safety of the staff and facilitate the functioning of the incinerator.
Madam Speaker, the team is diligently applying intermediate and final soil cover to the waste at our dumpsites and has introduced controlled waste picking/salvaging at the dumpsites. The Department is also engaging with their contractors periodically to conduct quality assurance and improvement meetings. Additionally, the tender package for the redesign and maintenance of the dumpsite located at Pockwood Pond will soon be advertised. Another tender package will also be advertised for the acquisition of modern landfill equipment such as landfill compactor and bulldozer to increase the Department’s capacity to manage the waste, to reduce the likelihood of fires and land slippage. Fourteen new public garbage bins have also been constructed.
As mentioned in my statement during the Eighth Sitting of this Honourable House, a new glass crusher was installed at Pockwood Pond to assist with our recycling efforts. Similarly, our waste oil storage facility is 90% completed. Drop off and collection of residential waste oil has commenced, today, 5 March 2024 and the oil will be exported for treatment and recycling. Additionally, the contract for the construction of 60 recycle collection bins for the WE RECYCLE programme has been awarded.
Madam Speaker, the Department has successfully baled and shipped 3 million plastic bottles for the year and has shipped approximately 120, 000 pounds of aluminum/scrap metal each month. The Ministry of Health and Social Development is also finalizing the tender package for the recycling of derelict vehicles and scrap metal. The Department is also working on strengthening enforcement and has issued seven litter removal orders and tagged 30 derelict vehicles, with 14 being removed for the year thus far.
In an effort to facilitate public education in waste management, the Department has begun conducting public meetings. This initiative began with the first set of public meetings for 2024 in Virgin Gorda and Anegada, and the Department intends to conduct at least one public meeting per month in a different district.
Madam Speaker, with the outlined efforts, the Department of Waste Management is on track to achieving their objectives for 2024.
Madam Speaker, I thank you.
