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We have to 'reduce' the amount of garbage going to incinerator- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

- says source reduction through recycling is ultimately what needs to happen for issues @ Incinerator to stop
Ninth District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley with responsibility for waste management says the challenges at the local incinerator can ultimately be solved with the reduction of garbage going into the facility. Photo: VINO/File
The tipping area of the Pockwood Pond garbage facility caught fire on December 9, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
The tipping area of the Pockwood Pond garbage facility caught fire on December 9, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
A fire officer working to extinguish the garbage blaze at the Pockwood Pond Incinderator on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Photo: GIS
A fire officer working to extinguish the garbage blaze at the Pockwood Pond Incinderator on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Photo: GIS
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI- Ninth District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley, who has responsibility for waste management, says the challenges at the local incinerator can ultimately be solved with the reduction of garbage going into the facility.

This comes as the facility faced another fire on Saturday morning, December 9, 2023, with the tipping area of the Pockwood Pond garbage facility catching fire.

This has caused many residents, especially of Pockwood and West End to complain about the smoke.

“We’re trying to put forward a new environmental bill… if we’re not going to reduce the amount of stuff going to incinerator we will all be back here at some point in time,” the minister said on the Monday, December 11, 2023, edition of Da Morning Braff radio show. 

Adding that issues with the incinerator have been ongoing, Hon Wheatley said a Request for Proposal for a new incinerator will go out, although there is a plan to repair the current incinerator.

He also said many modern facilities that can do a better job of managing garbage exist.

Recycling is key - Hon Wheatley 

“I want to encourage all persons to recycle as much as they can. The least amount of stuff going to the dump that we all produce, the more we can reduce from going to the dump, the better,” he said.

The Minister said people in the First and Second Districts and even as far as St John, US Virgin Islands (USVI) have had to deal with smoke from landfill fires at Pockwood Pond over the years.

Meanwhile, in terms of repairing the current system, Hon Wheatley said the Department of Waste Management is awaiting a shipment of parts to get the facility back and running in about four months.

The Pockwood Pond Incinerator has been out of service since February 2022 due to a fire.

Hon Wheatley reiterated that for persons who think the issue is about money, the real problem is that ultimately there needs to be a reduction in the amount of garbage going to the facility.

24 Responses to “We have to 'reduce' the amount of garbage going to incinerator- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley ”

  • VG Girl (12/12/2023, 13:39) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Tell them Butch
  • Rusty (12/12/2023, 13:48) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    OK. Butch. We will pile it up in your dam yard.
  • old @$$ (12/12/2023, 13:53) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    and where will we put it?
  • Stuupes (12/12/2023, 14:02) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    We have to do this. We want to do that. OMG SHADDAAAAPPPPP!!!!!
  • so tell me (12/12/2023, 14:03) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    YOU FLEW THOUSANDS OF MILES TO DUBAI ON THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND YOU WERE NOT EVEN INVITED TO THE CLIMATE MEETINGS. BE HONEST MR. WHEATLEY, DID YOU FLEW IN FIRST CLASS SEATS AND STAYED IN A FIVE STAR HOTEL AS WELL? I HEARD YOU ON THE RADIO BABBLING AND TRYING TO EVADE THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. HERES WHAT I SEE, A LAWSUIT FROM THE USVI. THEY ARE TIRED OF THE TOXIC POISONOUS AIR BLOWING FROM THE OPEN BURNING DUMPSITE.BETWEEN THE DUMP SITES ON TORTOLA AND VIRGIN GORDA IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PLACE BURN LIKE THE FIRE THAT TOOK OUT A WHOLE TOWN IN HAWAII A FEW MONTHS AGO.
  • Walay (12/12/2023, 14:13) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Waste Management 101
    Waste management begins at the point where waste is created.
    On the government side, providing different bins for different categories of trash is a good start.
    • Walay (12/12/2023, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Roger 10-4!
    • @Walay (13/12/2023, 09:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is created when it is imported. We need better quality water supply to stop bringing in millions of plastic bottles each year. We need to reduce the import duties on items with less packaging/increase duties on those with more packaging. Maybe up the duties on those with non-recyclable packaging included. Ban styrofoam. Subsidize local farmers/fisherfolk so they can provide more for the population and turn a profit.

      Consumers can be more conscious with their waste too. Compost food scraps. Recycle their glass and plastic. Stop buying for the sake of buying.
  • The Frig…. (12/12/2023, 14:46) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a frig! The blind leading the blind without even a one-eyed man among them. The BVI is not going anywhere fast in a leaking handbasket. How do put people get put in charge of things they don’t know pullet from fowl or ass from a hole in the ground about? The Westminster system.

    Let me see if I get this. The BVI population is increasing, resulting in more waste being generated. And the Vincent Wheatley, Minister of Health and Social Services, including solid waste management responsibilies, is opining that the waste stream load going to the incinerator is too voluminous and needs to be reduced through recycling. Fine. But what is the recycle plan and repurpose reuse plan for stuff which is deferred from going to the incinerator when it’s back on line?? Will the stuff earmarked for recycling be exported and if so where to? Where are the local recycling centers, if any? What incentives is being provided to consumers to recycle, reuse, etc?

    Further, in response to the latest fire at Pockwood Pond, Mr. Solomon the Director of Solid Waste directed consumers from putting flammable and hazardous items into the waste stream and several bloggers are asking what is the alternative plan for handling these items?? What is the plan Mr. Wheatley, Mr. Solomon? The Frig…is out.
  • we (12/12/2023, 15:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We the people of the BVI always have to do something, can the government once provide us something that are actually working for the people, example waste management, running water, school and finally proper roads. Soon you the government will tell us to take bath once a week to save the water usage. Shame on all that call them self Ministers.
  • SEEMS LIKE (12/12/2023, 15:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    No one knows or can come up with any solution to solving and correcting the problem. All you hear is we have to reduce the amount of garbage going in the incinerator or we have to order this and that and the wo wo wo. Damnnnnnn, we are so F. Honestly, my fear is the Island going up in flames. The problem have been going on with the dump for years and no one took it seriously. When things continue get out of control it is going to blow like a volcano.
  • Razón (12/12/2023, 16:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bumb i guess he wants us to eat or sell it.
  • Hmm (12/12/2023, 16:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    So after we stop taking it to the incinerator, where would we take it? Mehson try take several seats and zip ur mouth..... Ntn in place but yet stop taking it to incinerator....Ah setta book sense in the Govt....not one with common sense...NONE
  • Foolishness (12/12/2023, 16:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    AS A LEADER YOU NEED TO REALLY THINK BEFORE YOU TALK AND WHEN YOU DO HAVE A SOLUTION, OR YOU WOULD REALLY CAUSE PEOPLE TO WONDER.
    • @Foolishness (12/12/2023, 18:00) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      Many of you may not agree with my comment. But let’s get real here, don’t you all think it is time for a Woman to take charge and get us out of the rut that we are in? No matter what is said or talk about Women, they are the fixers, they know how to sit, brain storm and come up with solutions.
  • ok (12/12/2023, 20:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    So here’s what I will do. From now on I will burn my damn garbage on my property. And whoever is in charge better not come n my property and say I can’t burn garbage on my property or you will get a good lock down.
  • old heads again (13/12/2023, 08:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    for you to get with the times expand, get better facilties to deal with the problem and the growth of the population.. hear the nonsense our leaders talking
  • Scientist (13/12/2023, 08:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, indeed, easy to say let’s send less to the incinerator, segregate out non combustibles etc, but who does that? How should those materials separated out be disposed of? At the end of the day, the Territory needs a comprehensive understanding of its waste streams and how it will dispose of them. Everything brought here will have to be disposed of in some manner. Getting rid of old habits will be hard, and few are those who’d be happy to pay $50/month on a garbage bill, in part because few believe the govt can do a competent job of cleaning up the islands. Just look a the state of the roads.
  • Faithful (13/12/2023, 09:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    But yet when I light a small controlled fire to burn my dry bush and such, they sending firetruck to out my fire.
  • RFP NOW (13/12/2023, 09:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    How long until a new incinerator is procured??? Put the RFP out now! What is taking so long, it’s clear the current manufacture is completely unreliable- we can not rely on them they’ve proven this time and time again
  • Finally! (13/12/2023, 13:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Honorable Wheatley discovers recycling… we still need a country size working incinerator for a substantial amount of non recycled material
  • smh (14/12/2023, 08:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    But it's never "We need to build a better incinerator plant with clean burning smoke"

    You can only recycle so much


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