By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A reformed Bahamian consortium yesterday revealed it has submitted a proposal to divert 25 per cent of the existing waste streams away from the New Providence landfill, describing the plan as “a win-win” for all stakeholders.

Ginny McKinney, head of Wastenot, told Tribune Business that the Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG) was proposing to remove green and wood waste streams from the landfill, and instead recycle them into compost and mulch.

Apart from freeing-up capacity at the Tonique Williams-Darling Highway facility, Ms McKinney explained that WRDG’s plans would remove a “volatile component” that was helping to “feed” the frequent fire outbreaks at the landfill.

WRDG, whose other members include BISX-listed Bahamas Waste, Impac and Sanitation Services, submitted its proposal to the Government at the beginning of March and is now awaiting a response.

Ms McKinney said the consortium had already “proven itself” in mulch/compost recycling through the nine-year involvement of several members in the Green Systems venture, whose success had shown their latest proposal was “not pie in the sky”.

WRDG, in an earlier statement, confirmed that it had recently reformed to offer the Christie administration fresh solutions to its landfill woes, after the Government rejected its 2013 bid to take over and manage the facility in favour of Renew Bahamas.

It said: “Now, through this same entity, they [the Bahamian waste companies] have submitted a new proposal to divert the majority of green waste and wood waste generated on New Providence away from the landfill, and process it into a rich compost soil and a mulch product.

“They believe this will be a major step in controlling future fires, as the green waste generates methane gas as it breaks down anaerobically (without oxygen) in the landfill.

“This methane gas helps feed the landfill fires and contributes to global warming. The diversion of green waste will also conserve space in the landfill for future garbage.”

Expanding on WRDG’s plans in an interview with Tribune Business, Ms McKinney emphasised its latest proposal was another “piece of the puzzle” to solve the landfill’s multiple problems.

She added that it would complement the recycling/remediation efforts of Renew Bahamas, the landfill’s manager, but sought to temper expectations by explaining that the green/wood waste recycling - if approved - would not result in an immediate halt to the frequent fires.

“It was, of course, part of our original [2013] plan. We always had the green waste and organics in,” Ms McKinney explained.

“Green waste and organics are 25-30 per cent of your waste streams. If we can get that and divert it and, in our case, we will be composting it to make a soil, it’s a win-win.

“This way, we will be taking a volatile component out of the landfill, a big component, and creating landfill space. We will also be creating soil, which will be very good for the food security we have been nibbling away at,” she added.

“The removal of a methane-producing product is huge because it’s feeding the fires, and it toxic itself. People living near that landfill are constantly breathing in the methane.”

WRDG’s revised proposal is well-timed, given the frequent eruption of fires at the New Providence landfill in recent weeks. The associated smoke and fumes have blanketed nearby residential areas, and wider New Providence, creating health and environmental problems.

Schools in close proximity to the landfill have been forced to close and shift operations elsewhere, and both Renew Bahamas and the Government are coming under increasing pressure to resolve the problems.

Ms McKinney said WRDG was not aiming to directly compete with Renew Bahamas and its recycling facility, but instead complement it by providing another part of the solution for the landfill and waste management in New Providence.

“There are things we are going to pursue that do not invade Renew Bahamas’ space,” she told Tribune Business. “We have been operating Green Systems for nine years; we have proven ourselves.

“The great thing is that we have been doing it for nine years, so no one can tell us it’s pie in the sky. We’ve been producing a good product, and people are enjoying it.

“We have the staff and equipment to get on with this idea, but like all these ideas we do need some subsidy. That’s where the Government comes in. We know we have all the abilities. Just one movement in the right direction will be a blessing.”

Ms McKinney said the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) had successfully planted its full vegetable crop in Green Systems’ compost.

She added that it was competitively priced against foreign rivals, with one cubic foot of imported compost costing $12-$13. At a wholesale level, Green Systems’ was selling at $5 a bag, and “still has a bit of margin for growth”.

Ms McKinney confirmed that WRDG submitted its wood/green waste recycling proposal to the Government at the beginning of March, and said: “We’re really just waiting to see now.

“One of the biggest things is getting to the table.”

Ms McKinney said Green Systems, in which Bahamas Waste, Wastenot and Impac all have an equity interest, was likely to be absorbed into WRDG’s new venture if it was approved.

She explained that there was “not enough room for a second set up” at this time, and WRDG would seek to “fold as many” Green Systems investors as possible into the new project.

Green Systems’ investors also include the likes of New Providence Development Company, Caribbean Landscaping and private investors.

Ms McKinney told Tribune Business that WRDG’s investment in the new venture would “definitely be north of $500,000”, as more equipment and staff would be needed to handle the larger waste volume.

She added that Green Systems was currently dealing with 4,000 cubic yards of landscaping waste per month from Lyford Cay alone, indicating there was a lot of green and wood waste heading into the landfill.

While the WRDG initiative will not be a major job creator, Ms McKinney said its “value” lay in reducing landfill waste volumes and, ultimately, reducing the risk of fires long-term.

“What’s important to note is that, unfortunately, it’s not going to stop those fires that still need remediation,” she added. “That is a reality that still has to be dealt with. It will stop future fires.”

WRDG, in its statement, said all its members met on Wednesday with Kenred Dorsett, minister of the environment, to find out what was being done to tackle the landfill fires,

“They are worried about their personnel who, by necessity, have to go on the landfill daily and are exposed to the smoke and the ever-present danger of the fires,” WRDG said.

“Additionally, most of their offices are also located in close proximity to the landfill, and so like the nearby residents and schools, they must tolerate constant smoke pollution.

“They were told that the Government of the Bahamas is assisting Renew Bahamas in extinguishing the fires, and that Renew Bahamas will continue their recycling activities once the fires are controlled.”