Dump encroaches on private land

Honourable Arden McLean,
Minister of Communications,
Works and Infrastructure.

Wednesday,  August 17, 2005

The George Town dump is now taking up 20 to 30 feet of surrounding property – areas that are not Government-owned. Additionally, owners of the surrounding properties are not receiving payment for use of the land.

According to Hon Arden McLean, Minister of Communications, Works and Infrastructure, the dump has now “encroached on to the raw land surrounding the dump”, and since the Government did not own the land, immediate steps were being taken to have the dump reined in.

Mr McLean said that he spent eight hours at the dump site and touring the Island’s solid waste facilities last week and noted: “Our worst fears were realised when we saw that we had encroached 20 to 30 feet on to these properties. Consequently we will commence removing that (solid waste) from the people’s properties. A lot of what has gone over on to the properties are white goods.”

Even though handing over the non Government-owned land areas will reduce the amount of space available for dumping, Mr McLean said that simultaneously Government is looking at reorganising the dump.

“This will facilitate better utilisation of the land we have,” he said. “A crusher and a compacter are to be purchased because what we have is thousands of cubic yards of materials. It is estimated that we have 45,000 cars and some 30,000 tyres at the dump taking up a lot of space.”

Cars remain an issue as rumours suggest that cars are no longer being accepted at the dump, but Mr McLean was unable to confirm or dispute the rumour.

Asked to confirm that derelict cars were no longer being accepted at the dump, the Minister said: “I am not aware of that, however I am aware that the Leader of Government Business has told MC Restoration not to collect any more cars.”

Addressing the lifespan of the dump Mr McLean said that reorganising it would buy time in which to look at waste management solutions.

“This exercise gives us room to address alternate methods of waste management,” he explained.

“The timeline on the dump can be extended when it is reorganised. As well, we have also had a couple of internal fires that have reduced the amount of material in the landfill.”

Mr McLean said that a number of proposals from different solid waste management companies were in hand but no commitments had been made.

“The recycling programme is to recommence shortly,” he added.

“Actually, within the next few weeks. The programme involves the recycling of aluminium cans and papers, for which we have balers. The roof of the building has not yet been replaced and so electricity has not yet been restored there. The roof should be in place by next week.”

In relation to the secure dumping of the toxic ash left behind during the MC Restoration clean-up process Mr McLean revealed that this would be complete in another four weeks. “The physical ash cell is to be finished in two weeks. The overseas company will put in the liner at that time. In the week following, we will be transporting the ash. Therefore in three to four weeks the dumping of the ash will be finished,” he said.

In relation to funding waste management programmes Mr McLean said that residents had not even been paying the under-cost fees for refuse collection. He added that such programmes should be able to fund themselves.

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