NSWMA sorting hurricane debris at source to reduce costs

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is undertaking waste separation at source as part of measures to reduce the costs associated with the massive clean-up and transportation of Hurricane Melissa debris.

The move is part of measures under the Debris Management Programme, which has been established to provide the operational and administrative oversight necessary to clear the debris in parishes that were significantly impacted by the storm.

“So, we are looking at ways how we can get rid of the debris without burdening the taxpayer with billions and billions of dollars, and one way is to separate at source and divert,” said NSWMA Executive Director, Audley Gordon.

“If we can save the taxpayer five trips, 10 trips, we want to save them the 10 trips,” he pointed out.

He was addressing a press briefing held on January 12 at the agency’s headquarters on Half-Way Tree Road in St Andrew.

Gordon said that an assessment of debris being cleared from town centres indicates that there is a high percentage of vegetative waste, in addition to damaged household furniture, flooded cars, scrap metal and soil and silt.

He explained that instead of collecting the various types of materials together and transporting them to the designated dumping sites, they will be separated and sorted at the source of collection and either broken down or re-purposed.

“So… the vegetative material, that’s compostable. We have woodchippers… so we are pretty much refining those into almost a powdery substance that can be used to fertilise the soil. What we can divert to the scrap metal people, we are doing that,” he outlined.

Gordon informed that the NSWMA is sourcing additional woodchippers and crushers to process construction debris like blocks and zinc.

He said that the agency is in dialogue with a supplier and plans to begin the procurement process shortly.

“So, we’re going to look at the technology that is out there. We are in discussion, and once we can bring that equipment in, they will be part of our debris management exercise,” Gordon noted.

As it relates to scrap metal, he said that operators in the industry are invited to meet the NSWMA at the source of the debris clearing to take what they need, as this would “save us the trip”.

The executive director noted that the NSWMA has, so far, received $1.5 billion from the Government to clear the approximately 500,000 truckloads of debris left by Hurricane Melissa.

To date, crews have removed roughly 27,000 truckloads from severely impacted areas.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.