By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
NEW Providence’s landfill management said yesterday that it expects its new recycling facility to be completed and operating at full capacity by May 1, describing the recent fire at the site as more of a “distraction” rather than a setback to the company’s overall operations.
Gerhard Buekes, Renew Bahamas’ Chief Executive, told Tribune Business yesterday that while the company was operating a very small recycling facility it has exported roughly 45 containers of recycled material to date. He explained that the company was analysing the waste streams at the landfill to determine how much material there is and its composition in an effort to determine for the Government what the problems are in the ground.
Renew Bahamas was announced last June as the new manager for the Tonique Williams-Darling Highway site.
“We are still proceeding with the construction of a materials recycling facility,” Mr Buekes said. “We are going to put these test loads through at the start of April and we hope to be at full capacity by the end of April in terms of the recycling plant. We are very excited about that,” he said, noting that the recent fires at the landfill have further demonstrated the need to manage the site effectively.
“Certainly from an environmental perspective we want to deal with the fires as quickly as we can. I wouldn’t call it a setback, it’s a distraction. Obviously from a public safety point of view we are focused on that and we have pulled a significant amount of resources from our construction effort to deal with that.
“At the moment we have a very small recycling facility where we are doing test loads. We have already exported about 45 containers of product but we are trying to see what more we can learn about the waste steamers, how much there is and the composition,” said Mr Buekes.
“This entire situation with the fire has illustrated why it’s important that we take some of these recyclable materials out. It’s environmentally and financially the right thing to do but also it reduces the risk of future fires because these materials are all combustible. I think that once again it proves that even though it’s a small scale we can make a difference with this project. We’re proceeding full steam.
“The fire has been very unfortunate. We have to do something and unfortunately the wrongs of 30 years you cannot right in a couple of months’ time. We’re going to work very hard to see whether we can make this project a Bahamian success story from an environmental and and financial point of view.”
Mr Buekes said that Renew has effectively “tightened” the actual area of the landfill to this point. “We were trying to concentrate the tipping in a very small area, in a 17-acre portion of the site as opposed to previously when there was dumping all over 100 acres of landfill. Just by reducing the size that makes it easier to fight the fire. I think from an operational point we have already made a massive difference.”
Comments
B_I_D___ 9 years, 1 month ago
May 1st 2017?
asiseeit 9 years, 1 month ago
Hey, Renew better stop giving out state secrets. Everything to do with Renew is a state secret didn't they get the memo?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
How did a road get named after Frank Watson?
Economist 9 years, 1 month ago
A fire should never be considered as a distraction. It is the most important thing that you have. People lives and well being are at stake.
Renew is doing nothing for the residents of New Providence. We would be better off without them.
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