Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. yesterday signed a $221 million contract with the Ministry of Communities for the operation and maintenance of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill for a period of one year.
In February, the Ministry of Communities publicly invited bids for the maintenance of the landfill subsequent to the termination of a contract held by BK Inc.
The new contract was inked in the conference room at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill site at Eccles, East Bank Demerara by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities Emil McGarrell and Managing Director of Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. Lakenauth Puran.
Among other things, the contract covers the maintenance of the site, the equipment, the building and the plants as well as the development of the temporary roads and areas necessary for the proper off-loading and disposal of the waste and the operation of the leachate treatment facility and any other subsidiary facility on site.
According to Gordon Gilkes, Head of the Sanitation Management Unit at the Ministry of Communities, the contractor would have to follow guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He explained that the contractor would be engaged in the daily compacting of waste to expand and increase the lifespan of the site, prevent breeding of rodents, and minimise the obnoxious odour emanating from the facility. The contractor would also be tasked with maintenance of equipment on a weekly basis to improve the performance and lifespan of the machines.
Gilkes said that the signing of the contract demonstrates “we are moving to another phase of the management of the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill.”
Further, he said that the contractor would also utilise a specialised 32-tonne compactor, which was bought in Finland in 2014 for $90 million but was never put to use. It required that a certified and authorised company, which is Genequip, do the maintenance. Gilkes said BK Inc wanted to do the maintenance, which they could not allow. Several persons have been trained to operate the machine.
Additionally, Gilkes disclosed that they would be moving back to using Cell One at the landfill, while the temporary area that has been in use would be covered to ensure there are no environmental and health issues. A fire at Cell One, attributed to poor management, had curtailed the offloading of garbage there in December, last year.
Meanwhile, Puran, in brief comments, pledged that his company would work to transform the site into a sanitary landfill. “We have been around for 30 years, we have the experience, we have the machines…I promise we will work towards it,” he said.
Puran said that they have secured a new excavator and have on site a fire tender to respond immediately if flare-ups occur.
Also speaking at the signing, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan promised modern and efficient management of the site. Such management, he said, would “eliminate if not mitigate some of the undesirable features that have been associated with this landfill over the years.”
He was hopeful that the best practices would be used.
According to the Minister, the contract signing signals the ministry’s support for local government organs, which are challenged by a lack of financial resources and manpower. He said the ministry would not dictate what the local bodies are doing for their communities but give the aid that is necessary.
Walter Narine, the city’s Solid Waste Management Director, welcomed the new management on behalf of the Mayor and City Council. He expected that the new approach would ensure effective disposal and encourage recycling.
After the tendering process, cabinet granted a no-objection to Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. being awarded the contract. Stabroek News understands that the company was the third lowest bidder but based on its expertise and the services available, it was seen as the best candidate to undertake the $221,400,000, contract. The contract would run from July, 2016 to July, 2017.
A release from the Ministry of Communities said the landfill is expected to be opened from 7am to 8pm every day, except on Sundays and holidays, when it would be opened from 8am to 2pm.
