Page sponsored by Texaco Caribbean Limited
Publication: Daily Nation
Paper Section And Page: 17A
Paper Date: Wed, May 16, 2001
Byline: by Terry Ally
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Page sponsored by Texaco Caribbean Limited |
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READ any procedures manual for medical staff dealing with AIDS patients and it will tell you very emphatically that regular household bleach kills the AIDS virus. Any contaminated blood that spills can be wiped up with bleach and the virus is zapped! Even though this is a proven fact, it does not help AIDS victims. It does not cure or retard the disease.
The principle is the same with waste disposal technologies. Even though businessmen, who peddle waste-to-energy technologies, will persuasively represent that their technology is proven, does it mean that the particular technology is the solution to Barbados' waste problems? The answer is no, and as technocrats in the Ministry of Health scrutinise the 12 waste disposal technologies presently before Government, they will be focusing on a number of issues to determine the suitability of these technologies to the Barbados context.
Holistic approach
Topping the list is whether this represents a holistic approach to waste management. In 1994/95 Stanley Associates of Canada created a comprehensive solid waste management programme for Barbados. The public debate focused on the final disposal of solid waste - the Greenland Landfill - but there are many other issues of equal importance, such as legislation, collection and transportation, disposal of liquid and hazardous waste, financial viability, and a national waste policy. The waste policy would determine whether Barbados restricts importation of certain types of packaging or whether it will import lock, stock, and barrel and then take the responsibility for disposing of it all, or whether there would be a reduction and recycling scheme. Does the proposed solution address household and commercial waste? Does it deal adequately with organic as well as non-organic waste? Is it just a recycling solution? The comprehensive solid waste management programme was not implemented as envisioned and so any proposal before Government which addresses a total waste management solution is likely to be the more attractive one.
Mechanical plants
The track record and success of the technology which uses mechanical plants will be vital. Plants which burn or heat garbage produce very corrosive gases and therefore will require downtime of a few weeks each year for mandatory maintenance. The high heat transfer areas must be examined to ensure the integrity of the metal. Therefore anyone proposing a solution using such equipment will have to demonstrate that the plant had been in operation for an absolute minimum of one year, including the maintenance period, although ideally it should be over the period of several years so that a track record can be established. Any proposal which comes in with a plant which had only recently been commissioned should be thrown out.
The competition may be so keen that businessmen will want to fly reviewers all over the world to examine their plants and products. However, the important thing is to demonstrate that it can be successful within the Barbados context.
Is the waste stream the same or very similar?
Is the moisture content of the garbage the same or similar given that this
plant, which is likely operating in a temperate country, is being proposed for
the tropics. Can it handle the daily volume? During maintenance what happens to
the garbage? Does the plant produce ash? Is it toxic or prone to toxicity if
there is any failure in the process? Does it produce emissions? How much and how
does that compare to the standards in the present country of operation as well
as to world standards? If composting is involved, what will happen to the
compost? Is there a proven market for it or just a "potential" market?
Assuming a 50 per cent conversion rate, 281 tonnes of compost daily for the next
20 years - is that compost chemical free and safe to use on food crops? If
recycling is involved, is there a sufficient market as opposed to a
"potential" market? Does Barbados generate sufficient garbage to make
recycling commercially viable?
If the proposal involved energy generation, how much energy can be produced and what will be done with that energy? If that energy is to be sold is there a confirmed market for this energy as opposed to a "potential" market? Does the proposal focus on just one segment of the waste stream or all of it? Can it handle regular household waste along with waste from the hospital, chemicals, oils, organics, plastics, glass, metal? Very important to the taxpayer is whether this proposal will mean an introduction of new fees or whether the service will continue to be free of cost.
The 12 proposals are just about one-third of
what was received by Government back in 1994/95 but the issues are sufficient to
work technocrats overtime. Whatever proposal is chosen to replace the 1994/95
plan it has to have the capability to be implemented by 2003 - that is when the
new cell at the Mangrove Pond Landfill is expected to be filled.
JOIN IN THE talk SESSION tomorrow night at "TREADING LIGHTLY", Little Edgehill, St Thomas, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Call 425-0073 for details and directions. Our discussion sessions continue with: WHAT IS YOUR FOOTPRINT? WHAT IS BARBADOS' FOOTPRINT? HOW COULD WE REDUCE OUR FOOTPRINT? Footprint analysis is playing a central role in the "sustainability debate". It explains what sustainability actually means, it measures, unsustainability and suggests priorities for achieving sustainability. The footprint of Barbados is now more than nine times our size - a very vulnerable situation for a SIDS. Already some startling possibilities for reducing our footprint have been identified. Come and discuss them!! The evening will include a practical demonstration of footprint reduction applied to water.