The Department of Waste Management’s electricity bill for the Pockwood Pond facility on average increased from $6,000 to $18,000 per month, according to the department’s 2012 report laid in the House of Assembly (HOA) by Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton on July 25, 2013. Photo: VINO/File

While the new incinerator at Pockwood Pond proved to have more than the capacity to handle the amount of waste reaching the facility; it also brought about an increase in operating costs. Photo: VINO/File

The dump site at Nutmeg Point, Anegada was pushed, levelled and compacted only once for 2012 due to a budget cut, stated a report laid in the House of Assembly on July 25, 2013. Further it said, despite modifications to the site, the public continued to misuse the dumpsite. “Rather than taking their trash to the site, people continually dump their waste at the entrance to the site. The department will continue to put measures in place to alleviate this problem.” Photo: VINO/File

The Department of Waste Management’s electricity bill for the Pockwood Pond facility on average increased from $6,000 to $18,000 per month, according to the department’s 2012 report laid in the House of Assembly (HOA) by Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton on July 25, 2013.

“Also, unlike the previous incinerator, the new one requires propane gas to operate. We were forced to pay approximately $6,000 per month for propane in order to keep the incinerator functioning. Despite these increases, the DWM was still able to operate and maintain the incinerator for the year,” the report stated.

On a brighter side, 2012 was the first full year of operation for the new 100 ton per day incinerator and, unlike the previous incinerator, the new incinerator had no major breakdowns during the year, the report continued. There were also instances where the incinerator was taken off-line due to the lack of garbage. “In some cases the incinerator would be left for as long as (3) days in order to stock-pile garbage.”

Landfill sites felt effects of budget cut

The maintenance of the four landfill sites in the Virgin Islands continued to feel the effects of the budget cut in the subhead used for that purpose, the 2012 report stated.

“The Jost Van Dyke dumpsite at Batson Bay was pushed, levelled and compacted just once in 2012 due to the budget cuts.”

The site at Nutmeg Point, Anegada was also pushed, levelled and compacted only once for 2012, the report revealed. Further it said, despite modifications to the site, the public continued to misuse the dumpsite. “Rather than taking their trash to the site, people continually dump their waste at the entrance to the site. The department will continue to put measures in place to alleviate this problem.”

The report stated that the Virgin Gorda dumpsite located opposite the entrance to Gorda Peak continued to be maintained on a daily basis by one of the department’s heavy equipment. It complained that the bulldozer, which maintains the site, is relatively old and experienced numerous malfunctions during the year.

“During those breakdown periods, we were forced to hire private companies to maintain operation of the site, which proved to be a financial burden on the department. We are now at the stage where consideration must be given to the purchasing of a new bulldozer because the annual cost of maintaining the current bulldozer and the cost of hiring a private contractor to maintain the dumpsite during the down time is extremely high.”

In 2011, some $4,646,900.00 was approved for the department and the actual operating cost was $4,682,078.53. In 2012, however, only $4,472,400.00 was approved. The operating cost that year was $4,636,841.61.

“Despite the reduction in funds approved to cover the operational cost of the DWM in 2012, it was still able to maintain a relatively high standard in relation to service delivery. We managed to pay most of our bills for the year with the funds that were approved. However, a few bills had to be paid in 2013 after the new budget was available,” the report stated.

The overall goal of the Department of Waste Management (DWM) is to collect and dispose of solid waste generated within the Virgin Islands in an environmentally and socially satisfactory manner, while using the most economical means available.

In 2012, the department’s name was changed from Solid Waste to Waste Management. “The rationale behind the rebranding of the department was to change its image and show the public its new direction in utilizing greener solutions to our solid waste issues,” the 2012 report explained.