A sustainable solution to Georgetown’s waste management programme

Let us turn our minds to the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Programme. The notes for a launching workshop held on February 14, 2008, provide details of the plan. The land filling dumpsite has been the chief means of disposal for the solid waste generated in Georgetown and several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The Le Repentir landfill site has been in use since 1993. It was planned as a demonstration landfill and was projected to be in operation for two years. The situation of the landfill site deteriorated.

In the light of this, the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Programme (GSWMP) was developed with funds from IDB. Its objective is to contribute to the improvement of the environmental conditions and quality of life of the population in Georgetown and environs. It aims to implement sustainable solutions to solid waste management, to solve the waste disposal problem through the implementation of a sanitary landfill site at Haags Bosch, which is aback of Eccles.

The programme is expected to be achieved through strengthening the capacity of the Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWMD) of the Georgetown municipality for the overseeing of solid waste management and disposal and improve collection logistics and cost recovery at Georgetown and Neighbour-hood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

It is intended;

to raise public awareness within George-town and the NDCs for a better management of solid waste among households, industries, commerce, etc;

supplement the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Facility (HBSLF) with the participation of a specialized operator from the private sector;

provide resources to study and define technologies to treat health care and hazardous waste;

implement a more efficient waste collection at the NDCs participating in the project; and

provide additional re-sources to rehabilitate and close the Le Repentir landfill.

The programme has been divided into six components:

1. Institutional strengthening and capacity building for solid waste management

2. Community participation and public awareness programme

3. Design construction operation at the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill

4. Waste collection and disposal from participating NDCs

5. Rehabilitation, expansion and closure of the Le Repentir landfill

6. Treatment and disposal of health care and hazardous waste.

Cost and financing

Cost of the programme is US$18,070 million funded with the Fund for Special Operations (FSO) loan

US$1.9 million will be paid to Project Preparation Facilities (PROPEF) users of the service in Georgetown and the NDCs are financing recurring cost.

Executing

agent (EA)

– The GM through the MSWMD will be the executing agent for the programme.

– MSWMD will be supported by a Project Execution Unit (PEU).

– The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) will commit to transfer the proceeds of the loan to the PEU.

– There will be the support of the Steering Committee (SC) and an Institutional Strengthening and Supervision Committee (ISSC).

Programme

execution and

administration

The execution of the programme will be the responsibility of the MSWMD and the PEU.

– SC with the participation of all stakeholders including representatives from the NDCs will provide guidance to the EA and review the working plans

– ISSC will support the EA and PEU while building new capacity within the MSWMD.

Key targets

– Programme execution scheduled to be completed in 5 years.

– CO promoter work commenced January 2008.

– Construction of Haags Bosch landfill commences January 2009

– Deposit of waste at Haags Bosch commences January 2010.

– ISSC commences work on NDC’s budgeting and accounting systems July 2008.

– Development of waste collection system for NDCs – October 2008.

– Public awareness consulting firm commences work on strategy – August 2008.

– Work on health care waste solution commences June 2008.

– Waste collection systems for NDCs in place June 2009.

– Closing of dump sites in NDCs commences January 2010.

– Closing of Le Repentir landfill by July 2010.

The cooperation of all stakeholders is essential for the successful implementation of this programme.