By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

RENEW Bahamas has formally announced plans to build and manage the nation’s first materials recycling facility at the Harrold Road landfill site.

President and CEO of Renew Bahamas, Gerhard Beukes yesterday called the announcement of “the multi-faceted, 125,000 square foot facility”, the start of converting one of the nation’s biggest issues into a true “Bahamian success story”.

Mr Beukes indicated that once completed, the recycling plant will process up to 80 tonnes of residential and commercial waste per hour, positioning the Bahamas as a regional leader in waste management.

He added that the company remains in talks with government on a number of outstanding matters but emphasised that both parties are on the same page.

“We have the full support of the government, they fully understand the benefit this could bring to the country and we are confident that we can make this partnership a great success,” Mr Beukes said.

He suggested that the new facility, once complete, would “significantly” cut the amount of money spent by government to manage the landfill, reduce the country’s environmental footprint by recycling waste materials and aid the company’s social mandate by employing some 70 new workers.

He added: “That is truly our aim here, revitalising the entire industry and taking it to a new platform. The most important thing to note about what we are trying to do here is that there are substantial benefits to the country. If we are truly successful here, over time we will see relief in terms of the amount spent to manage this landfill site. Fighting fires and all other measures taken here are things that are done at our cost and more importantly at our own risk.”

Renew Bahamas is the solid waste management company contracted by government in January of 2014 to manage and operate the nation’s largest landfill. Company officials have said they are focused on establishing a sustainable waste management industry in the Bahamas.

Since commencing operations at the Harrold Road site the company has been plagued by arson attacks at the landfill, a problem that has persisted for decades. On Monday, Renew Bahamas reported that they were battling two new fires at the site despite only having a January 17 blaze “80 per cent” contained. Last March, a fire burned at the dump for several weeks, causing school closures and discomfort for nearby residents.

Officials believe that recycling waste material could reduce the landfill’s “environmental footprint” and occurrence of fires.

Andrew Knowles, Renew Bahamas’ head of communications, added: “This is significant for the company because it solidifies our commitment to providing sustainable waste solutions for the country.”

Company officials said stage one of the facility has already started.

In November executives installed a new weight bridge system that allowed the facility to accurately determine the amount of waste entering the site.

Mr Beukes said the company’s next step would be to install two recycling lines and an industrial baler covering an area of 67,000 square feet. The company would then install two picking lines, taking the overall development to 125,000 square feet.

The new facility is expected to be up and running by April.