By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
IN JUST six months the new managers of New Providence Landfill have raised the site to international standards and nearly eradicated the putrid smell and fly infestation that once defined the area.
More importantly, Providence Advisors/WRDG Consortium and its partners have virtually obliterated the chances of major fires erupting at the site. The last landfill fire happened in 2018.
Timothy Hodge, CEO and Founder of Strata Sustainability, who is the project manager for the landfill, now to be known as New Providence Ecology Park, admitted that there have been small fires, but crews constantly work to ensure that these smaller fires do not become major incidents.
Part of the strategy involves using a retardant on highly flammable types of waste such as tyres to ensure fires do not rapidly spread whenever they ignite. These tyres are shredded for other uses, including sub grading the roads in the park, among other things. They’ve also ensured there are sufficient buffer spaces between the site and residential communities.
Garbage is further properly sorted as trucks and residents bringing in waste know exactly where they should dump it.
Overall, Mr Hodge said there was a focus on recycling any materials that can be reused and repurposed. However it will be years before the site is ready to contribute to the country’s renewable energy needs, he said.
Officials of the NPEP hosted a press conference and site tour Friday benchmarking its six months of steady progress.
NPEP Chairman Felix Stubbs said the progress had brought new life into a once malignant landfill.
He said: “We have cleaned and organised the park. We have created roads and established specific treatment areas for various types of waste received. Safety and security are paramount within our operations. We have implemented controlled site access, 24-hour security patrols and traffic controls.
“Our goal is to develop an aesthetically pleasing 160 acre ecology and industrial park. We aim to be a beacon for the region and drive the movement toward more sustainable, environmentally friendly waste management practices throughout the Bahamas.”
NPEP in future plans to launch key initiatives that will reap economic social and environmental gains for generations to come.
This includes a recycling facility that can process all recyclables gathered across the nation, including cans, bottles and metal.
Additionally a large scale composition operation, as well as a concrete/demolition debris recovery operation are in the pipeline.
Comments
rdonaldson 4 years, 6 months ago
I have recently visited this site and was amazed at the transformation it has undergone. The people working there was so very helpful and courteous - I thought I was in a different place! The site was orderly and fenced in at the entrance. It was so easy to drive in and simply drop your small load off.. I was not hassled for a tip but I gave one willingly.. This is simply great and I applaud the Minister for achieving such a high standard in such a short time.
Great job!
SP 4 years, 6 months ago
I had a similar experience. Someone finally figured out that managing a dropoff site at the entrance made more sense than having people drive into the actual dump site. It was easy, accessible and absolutely no problem. As more people find out about this, indiscriminate dumping should become a thing of the past.
killemwitdakno 4 years, 6 months ago
Is it going to be moved to another’s island or can we expect all of that debris to be all over Nassau in a 5?
SP 4 years, 6 months ago
If it took these people just 6 months to resolve these issues, obviously dancing clown Perry Christie and sticky fingers Davis were WAY off track with their failed dumpsite plan as much as they were with everything else they touched!
concerned799 4 years, 6 months ago
Great job! I hope everyone can say something good to the people in government who brought this about, we complain too much, and at times its justified, but good work should be commended too.
Now to just turn all this good work into creating a nice solar based electrical system that doesn't emit as much greenhouse gases.
joeblow 4 years, 6 months ago
Can we please get those managers to take over disaster relief too!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 6 months ago
Not so fast. People living to the WNW, NW and NNW of the New Providence Dump have been complaining in recent weeks about the smoke filled air descending over their areas as a result of the many fires that have been left smouldering and/or the garbage incineration processes.
BONEFISH 4 years, 6 months ago
This country is a generation behind in waste management. What is happening should been started in the nineteen -eighties.
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