The bidding process for the construction and operation of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSLF) on the East Bank of Demerara has begun.
According to an advertisement appearing in Tuesday’s issue of this newspaper, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has invited bids from eligible bidders to build and operate the landfill under the project, the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Programme. The advertisement stated that the Government of Guyana has received a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and it intends to apply part of the proceeds towards the sustenance of the project.
In addition, the advertisement stated that the successful bidder is expected to operate the landfill for a period of 10 years and the site is expected to be built to an approximate capacity of 865,000t. In addition the ad stated that the successful bidder is expected to construct a small separate site (cell) capable of holding hazardous waste not exceeding 50t per month.
The advertisement stated that the engineer’s estimate of the total cost of the HBSLF for general facilities amounts to approximately US$11M in the year of investment. Additionally investments for vehicles and other movable equipment for landfill operation are estimated to be approximately US$1M.
In 2007 a loan amounting to US$18.07M was signed between the Government of Guyana and the IDB for the project. In the 2008 budget, $3.687M was made available to the Local Government Ministry for the construction of the landfill site at Haags Bosch and according to the project profile, the project is expected to run from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011.
The project includes provisions for institutional strengthening and capacity building, public awareness and community participation of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, treatment and disposal of healthcare and hazardous waste and the rehabilitation, expansion and closure of the Mandela Landfill. That landfill is expected to continue receiving garbage until the completion and commissioning of the Haags Bosch project.
The Haags Bosch landfill will make provisions for the trapping of fire -causing methane gas and will be designed to ensure that no foul odour emanates from the site.
In March this year Local Government minister Kellawan Lall told the National Assembly that the construction of the site will result in the partial closure of the Mandela site and he also disclosed that the latter will be permanently closed by next year.
The Mandela landfill has posed problems for residents living near to the site for many years. During last year several fires at the landfill dispersed noxious fumes which affected residents living in nearby communities.
The Haags Bosch landfill was to be on stream several years ago.