Haags Bosch Landfill Site readies for oil

Feb 23, 2019 News

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In another year, Guyana is expected to be well on its way to first oil, barring any unforeseen event. One of the major areas that has been lurking in the periphery is the large quantity of waste that is expected. It will likely come not only from direct oil activities, but as a result of the spin-offs from other activities, including an expected population growth.
According to Site Manager Lloyd Stanton, the Haags Bosch Landfill has no problems with capacity, but it will need resources and number of strategies to efficiently manage what is to come. Stanton would know.

Haags Bosch, located aback of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was opened in February 2011, after the troubled Le Repentir reached capacity and was becoming a major worry for the city.
Haags Bosch inherited the city’s waste and that of the 25-plus Neighbourhood Democratic Councils between Mahaica, the seawall, Timehri and Parika.
Originally 300 acres, the facility’s size was reduced to 150 acres, to make way for housing and an industrial site.
According to Stanton, the construction of the landfill was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Guyana, to handle all municipal land waste and other solids. The contract to manage the daily operations of the facility has been given to Waste Solutions Landfill, a joint venture between Cevon’s and Puran’s.
According to Stanton, the landfill has been widening its scope, now accepting derelict vehicles.

Under strict consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, it has been also accepting materials like asbestos.
It is the plan in the future for a number of initiatives to make the landfill more sustainable, thus lengthening the lifespan of 28 years.
“Our future concept will involve volume reduction and compaction…we want to go there,” the official said during a recent interview with Kaieteur News.
The contractor has over 25 staffers to handle the first cell, which is being used to manage the daily garbage.
Representing the Ministry of Communities which has jurisdiction over the facility, are three staffers, including Stanton and personnel to manage the scale.
Regarding the cell, the official explained that it initially catered for four. Measuring 353 metres by 185 metres, it was recommended that the height does not go beyond 15 metres.
Each cell was supposed to last about seven years. The current one has already exceeded its life span by two years.
“This is Cell One we’re working on. We have the rest of the year, pushing it to the limits. Tenders are in for Cell Two and currently in evaluation stage. It is a matter of getting funding approved to get the contractor awarded.”
Stanton is one of the few Guyanese who is qualified in waste management, studying in Japan, and learning best practices there. He has participated in courses in Trinidad, and is paying attention to what is happening in the Caribbean.
Since opening, the facility has built one of the most modern leachate treatment systems in this part of the hemisphere.
A number of countries are paying close attention to Guyana and its management of Haags Bosch.
To reduce the impact of leachate being released to nearby waterways, there are quarterly tests being done by independent companies, with Haags Bosch looking to establish its own laboratory.
“Right now it is safe. We have a leachate treatment system for two years now and we never had cause to stop the process.”
Currently, the facility takes off about 400 tonnes of garbage daily.

In January alone, there were 12,615 truck trips recorded at the site. And that does not involve inert soil, which amounts to about 560 tonnes monthly.
Daily, according to January figures, an average 150 trucks were taking waste there.
Stanton admits that much more needs to be done.
“We do some amount of separation. We are not where we want to be. There are tyres. We have soil. There are about 40 waste recyclers who collect metal and bottles.”
According to the official, Haags Bosch inherited 69 waste pickers from Le Repentir.
The project was given an option by the IDB – to provide employment for them or find another way. The pickers have been given safety gear and are mandated to take monthly health checks.
Questioned about the smell to nearby housing areas, including Nandy Park and Eccles, Stanton said that while from time to time there are emanations, these are few.
He pointed out that from time to time, smells would emanate from the waste, but these dissipate and some would end up over the housing areas.
He said that fresh garbage limits how far away the smell can carry. There are infrequent times when the amount of waste brought in cannot be covered in time. This is rectified in a day or so.
Some days, the amount of garbage brought in can rise. One time, it was an astounding 1,700 tonnes.
With regards to development, Stanton disclosed that there have been proposals to take off the used tyres at the site. There are almost 10,000 tyres at the site, building up to a mountain of them. Monthly, almost 110 tonnes is being collected monthly.
Haags Bosch wants to get rid of it.
“We are accepting proposals for tyres. One proposal is in a small market. The problem is how on the long term, it will sustain itself. We are advising them to go around the place and collect. It can reach 1,000 tonnes monthly that can be made available.”
With regards to oil, Haags Bosch has seen a sharp rise of waste from the oil activities.
“There is going to be an increase in garbage. We can handle much more on site. It will have to be, however, a question of how much, in terms of resources.”
While 27 years has been touted, Stanton is convinced that the life of the landfill can go up to 60 years.
“There are so many things that can be done. For instance, the configuration of the current cell can allow more space. We can do compaction and recycling which will reduce volumes by as much as 40-50 percent, which will allow the life of the site to be extended by years. We are also thinking of asking for lands behind us to the east. So there is no issue of space.”
Stanton also pointed to possibilities of reducing the volumes by fostering the scrap metal trade.
“We need to improve on quality control. We could bring housing closer, but it will take resources, and we have lessons from other countries.”

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