Compacting, security and environmental issues still plaguing Haags Bosch

Sep 25, 2016 News

Puran Brothers Garbage Disposal Inc. signed a contract valued at $221 million with the Ministry of Communities. Head of the Sanitation Management Unit of the Ministry of Communities, Gordon Gilkes, had stated that the Landfill Compactor that was purchased in 2014 will be handed over to newly contracted Haags Bosch manager, Puran Bros.
The “specialist” equipment, which is used to compact garbage to the required density at dumpsites, was never handed over to former manager of Haags Bosch, BK International, due to a number of issues related to the possible management and maintenance of the multi-million-dollar piece equipment.
However checks by Kaieteur News have revealed that the Landfill Compactor valued at $90 million, was not being used by the new site operator. The compactor is currently parked about 80 meters from the administrative building at Haags Bosch.
A Source close to the operation has disclosed that the Landfill Compactor was never handed over to the new site operator as Gilkes said. Moreover Puran Bros. is still operating on a temporary contract. Due to this the compactor could not be handed over.
This contradicts statements made Gilkes at the signing of the contract back in July this year.
Currently the active cell at the landfill is being tended to by one bulldozer and one excavator, the source said. The source explained these machines while not made for this purpose, are currently being used to compact garbage at the landfill.
This, he said, is not viewed as the best practice in terms of landfill management, adding that they are doing the best they can with what they have.
The lack of a long term contract for the operations of the landfill is also causing security and environmental issues.
The source said that the landfill has no proper gate; this allows all sorts of undesirables access to the facility.
“The security guards cannot tell who are official pickers from who are not, so everyone is allowed in. If there was a good gate, ID cards could be issued and entry could be monitored.”
It was disclosed that some pickers would venture into areas not designated for picking and they would bring out and leave all sort of debris on the access road to the facility.
Another issue facing the landfill is the fact that the facility is not able to process liquid waste. However persons have been frequently dumping oil in the trenches along the access road to the dumpsite.
The source said this is a major environmental hazard, noting that the trenches are connected to other water ways.
The scale for weighing garbage is currently not operational, as it is in need of calibrating. Due to this, the quantities of garbage coming in to the facility have to be estimated. This calls in to question payment for Puran Bros, as the landfill operator is paid according each ton of garbage processed.
Contact was made with Gordon Gilkes who said, Puran Bros. is not operating under the new contract signed in July because of a bid protest by Cevons Waste Management.
It was also added that because of the bid protest, Puran Bros. is currently operating under the initial temporary agreement ink in February. Adding that the disposal company was sole sourced for this.
When questioned on the size of the contract in February, Gilkes said that he did not know. However he did state Puran Bros. would have documentation allowing the company to continue managing the operations at Haags Bosch until the bid protest is resolved
Lakenauth Puran, at the signing in July, maintained that his company remains committed to ensuring that the Haags Bosch Landfill Site is transformed into a site that complies with local and international environmental standards.
He vowed that his company will work closely with the Ministry of Communities towards improving the aesthetics of the site and move towards implementing regulations that are in accordance with the relevant health standards.

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