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Friday, December 01, 2017

Local NewsThe Grenadian Voice

Grenada looking for alternative to land filling

Waste management is not
only an issue
for small developing
states like Grenada,
but also for developed
countries like Japan.
Japan was faced withlimited landfills in theearly 1990s and as asolution it turned toCross section of Grenada’s only landfill at Perseverance
recycling. Its successwith managing waste issupported by education,
culture and legislation.
A journalist with The
Grenadian Voice newspaper was among participants of the 2017
APIC-FPCJ PacificCaribbean Journalists’Programme in Octoberthat visited an ordinary
apartment waste collection area in Kawasaki
City, Japan, to learn
how citizens sort anddispose trash and recyclables. Observing theoperation proved very
impressive and seemedfeasible for small communities in Grenada.

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The group was toldthat area residents started this project about sixyears ago.
There is a schedule
for the collection of specific type of waste oneach day, with the
exception of Thursdays
and Sundays when
there is no collection.
On Monday, glass bottles and metal cans arecollected; Tuesday, plastics; Wednesday, household waste; on Friday,paper; and, on Saturday,
household waste.
Citizens bring out
their garbage to the designated collection
points early in themorning before thetrucks pass by and notduring the night. They
also use specific typesof garbage bags. Theapartment block’s maintenance staff covers the
piled up garbage bagswith a net to keep out
rodents and cats.
Large volume ofwaste is collected only
by appointments.
Illegally dumping,which attracts a fine of
10 million yen ($US100,000), is controlled by
the police, who give
guidance to residents todiscourage the practice.
The garbage is collected by Kawasaki
City’s municipal collection service, and is sorted and taken to be

Garbage being collected in Kawasaki City, Japan
Photo courtesy: Waka Photos
incinerated or recycled.
At the municipal
Ukishima Waste
Treatment Centre, thejournalists observed thecollection and sortingof plastics and papers,
which are bailed andbrought to recycling
plants.
The group also visitedthe private JFE Plastic
Resource Cooperationand got an understanding of how plastic is
recycled into pellets andboards, which are usedin Japan and are also
exported.
More so, throughout
Japan strategicallyplaced and labelled
receptacles are visiblefor disposing different
types of recyclable
waste.
In Grenada, the landfill at Perseverance isclose to its carrying
capacity and finding
another is proving futile.
Though it is not thebest option, theAuthority is considering
using up the existingland space atPerseverance andacquiring additionallands in the vicinity.
With over 39,000 tonsof waste annually goingto the landfill, Senior
Public Relations Officer(PRO) at the Grenada
Solid Waste
Management Authority(GSWMA), MyrnaJulien, said “we cannot
continue to be land filling so we ought to consider other options.”
In the coming weeks,
Grenada is expected tosign a contract with aregional company toundertake a review of
the national waste management strategy, looking into the options ofwaste diversion such asrecycling, composting,waste to energy, exporting recyclables, etc.
Commenting on thescope of recycling here,

PM: “Parents take yourresponsibility seriously”

Prime Minister
and Minister ofNational Security,
Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, hascalled on parents totake better care of theirchildren.
While expressing
sympathy with thefamily on the deathof young Ariel Bhola

who tragically lost her
life three weeks ago,
Dr Mitchell said theaction of others in thecountry brings to thefore issues confronting Grenada and othercountries in the world.
The Grenadian leader
noted that when problems like these occur
there must never be

political divide in solving them, as all hands
must come together,because it affects everyindividual. He said,“The abuse of one childmust be on the conscience of every one of
us in this society.”
Strengthening of thefamily unit is key, thePrime Minister stated,

Ms Julien said, “Thereis very little recycling
taking place in Grenada.”
She noted that previous
studies done at theOECS level revealed
that this was not feasible because the amountof waste generated is
not enough to drive anindustry. However, shesaid Grenada’s current
options are to process
and ship out for recycling purposes. “If thathas to be done, possibly
it will have to be in collaboration with neighbouring countries….”
More so, she said they
will have to see “howwe can establish markets beyond the region
and have those shippedout but as it is for now,
it is a challenge.”
Ms Julien said 45% oforganic waste ends up
in the landfill and thiscan be reduced. She
said waste to energy
may be practicable but
the cost must be evaluated.
because that is wherelots of problems begin,"parents are not handling their responsibility properly as mothers
and fathers.”
He added that somemothers are prepared
to sell their daughters
to some of these dirty
old men. The
Grenadian leader also
noted that some mothers know that theproblem exists butwhen their children
complain, they arebeing blamed.