Latest update November 24th, 2024 12:15 AM
Foul smell at Eccles landfill…Govt. targets BK’s management, recycling to fix problems
A government-hired consultant has found that a new government housing scheme behind Eccles will not be affected by the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSL), once the site is properly managed.
Residents of the upscale Republic Park and Eccles residential areas, on the East Bank of Demerara, had raised complaints on Monday during a public hearing on the landfill’s updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Residents complained that the smell of the new landfill is affecting them. During the hearing at the Eccles Primary School, residents also complained that the site was badly managed by the contractor, B.K International.
The landfill is located behind the Eccles Industrial Site. Between the landfill and the industrial site, in what is called the buffer zone, the Ministry of Housing had opened new lands to housing.
A new housing scheme located in the reduced buffer zone of the Eccles landfill site will not be affected by foul smell, once the site is properly managed.
Currently several homes targeting young professionals are being built. The concern was that, if residents of Eccles and Republic Park located even further away are being affected, then it is highly likely that residents of the new housing scheme would also suffer from the foul stench.
However, the Ministry of Local Government which manages the landfill, said that Exp Services, Inc., a consultant it hired, found that HBSL can perform satisfactorily with the reduced buffer zone, provided that it is operated in an environmentally sound manner with “commensurate increases in the frequency and scope of monitoring. A number of specific items need to be implemented before a hazardous waste cell is implemented,” a statement from the Ministry said yesterday.
At the meeting were approximately 50 persons, including persons from Republic Park and Eccles; Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development; Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) from the East Bank and East Coast; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the contractor/operator; BK International Inc.
According to the Ministry, the residents were expressively vocal on the issue of “objectionable odour emissions from the landfill and the intent to have Hazardous and Healthcare Waste” placed in a special cell designed to receive such waste at Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill.
“Issues of inadequate compaction of waste and the delivery of waste above the designed amount were raised as concern was expressed that this will significantly reduce the life of the landfill.
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development advised that efforts are being made to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill.”
The Ministry said that it is working on a “recycling programme and has invited and received expression of interests from recyclers to start a massive recycling programme that would see a significant volume of waste being used as inputs in the recycling operations”.
Additionally, the Ministry says it has recognized the challenges at the landfill site and is meeting with BK “continuously” to find solutions and to ensure that the firm complies with the environmental and social requirements.
“In this regard also, the contractor and the Ministry have agreed on major areas of operation improvements to move the project forward. These include a revised list of equipment, revised list of personnel and performance indicators.”
However, these performance indicators were not disclosed.
The IDB-funded contract for the Haags Bosch was awarded to BK International and Puran Brothers, at the cost of US$9.7M, and these two were tasked not only with constructing the landfill, but also with operating the site over a five to nine-year period. BK is now handling the operations. It was opened in 2011.
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