Landfill sites under upgrading to tackle solid waste management issues across Guyana

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, led by Minister Nigel Dharamlall, has undertaken a concerted effort to tackle the problem of solid waste management throughout the country, including the upgrading of several landfill sites. The commitment of the Ministry to this cause is evident in the upgrades being made to the Haags-Bosch landfill site, which include the installation of a stormwater pond, biofilters, and landfill gas extraction wells to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness as a national sanitary landfill facility. According to Minister Dharamlall, "“At Haags-Bosch, we have to continuously upgrade the services provided there, and… we have all of those currently being implemented. Of course, there are challenges in terms of natural circumstances—weather, and now in some instances, we have issues with materials. But, at Haags-Bosch, the construction is proceeding on time." Last year, a contract was awarded for the construction of a new sanitary landfill site in Blairmont, located on the West Bank of Berbice in Region Five, as stated by the Minister. Additionally, the road leading to the site is expected to be finished by the end of this year. The development of this facility is a significant achievement as Region Five has never had a sanitary landfill. Similarly, two landfill sites in Region Two, namely Lima and Charity, had to be closed down due to housing development. Consequently, a new landfill site is being constructed at Zorg-en-Vlygt on the Essequibo Coast. he 2023 budget has allocated a total of $2.2 billion towards various projects, including the provision of landfill sites at Byderabo, Kildonan, Bon Success, and Kara-Kara, as well as the closure of dumpsites at D’Edward Village and Esplanade. The Bon Success, Lethem landfill is already operational, and upgrade works for the facility will soon be tendered. Further, Minister Dharamlall pointed out that Kildonan and other populated areas lack proper waste disposal facilities, leading to the indiscriminate dumping of garbage. The government has therefore started constructing small facilities in these areas, which began last year and will be intensified this year. Furthermore, the government has set aside funds for the cleanup of Kara-Kara in Region Ten and Bartica in Region Seven. The Ministry is also evaluating the possibility of establishing additional landfill sites in Region One and Nine.

Source(News: Department of Public Information, Image: Guyana Times )

---

24 Mar 2023 17:00 | by anaraine

| Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Standards