Evolution

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Evolution Implementation of a Solid Waste
Strategy, St. Lucia
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
The Morne, PO Box 1111, Castries, St.
Lucia Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
Email cehi_at_candw.lc Web site www.cehi.org.lc
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Introduction to St. Lucia
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Introduction to St. Lucia

• Small island developing state in Eastern
  Caribbean
• Population of 150,000
• Capital city population of 60,000 (Castries)
• Other major town in south (Vieux Fort)

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Solid Waste Situation, 1994

• Low public awareness of SW issues
• Improvements constrained by institutional issues,
  especially financial and technical
• Infrastructure poorly maintained and operated
• Management of intl waste ineffective

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Solid Waste Situation, 1994

• No articulated strategies or policies related to
  solid waste management (SWM)
• Fragmented responsibilities among City, Town,
  Village Councils, and Ministry of Health
• Number of pieces of legislation re. SWM

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Solid Waste Situation, 1994

• Much of population not served by collection
  system
• Vehicles hauling waste not appropriate or up to
  standard and enforcement lacking
• Litter clearance a low priority
• Removal of animal carcasses inadequate

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Solid Waste Situation, 1994

• Many dumps scattered around island
• Poorly located and operated
• Scavengers/salvagers on sites
• Limited cover material used
• Regular burning was a part of site management,
  as a rule

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken

• Participated in Sub-regional (OECS) Solid
  Ship-Generated Waste Management Project (the
  Project)
• Funded by World Bank (1996-2003) and Caribbean
  Development Bank (1996-2004)
• Government of St. Lucia also contributed

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken - Policy

• National Waste Disposal Strategy, 1997
• Contracting Strategy for Solid Waste Disposal
  Site Operation (Short-term), 1997
• Solid Waste Collection Strategy, 1997
• Hazardous Waste Advisory Committee, 1999
• Policy for Shore-Generated Waste, 2000
• Policy for Ship-Generated Waste, 2000

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken - Policy

• National Waste Disposal Strategy
• Improve practices over time
• Replace existing site operations with sanitary
  landfill techniques
• Operate two sites (North and South)
• Upgrade southern site to serve for 20 years
• Phased closure of northern site build new SLF to
  last 25 years

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken Legal/Institutional

• Establishment of Solid Waste Management Authority
  (SLSWMA), 1997
• Councils relieved of responsibilities re.
  collection disposal
• Waste Management Act drafted
• Marine Pollution Act drafted
• Litter Act to be repealed

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken Waste Collection

• Collection expanded to include ALL areas
• Collection privatized and stringent performance
  contracts issued
• Community bins provided where curbside collection
  not possible
• Bulky waste and litter included in contracts

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken Waste Disposal

• Poorly operated dumps closed
• 20 illegal dump sites remediated by contractors
  AND 2 by perpetrators
• Main sites in Ciceron (Castries) and Vieux Fort
  upgraded to sanitary landfill standards (by 1998)
  and site operation contracts issued
• Ciceron eventually closed in 2003
• New SLF site opened at Deglos for Castries and
  environs

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Waste (tonnes) Disposed of at Ciceron and Vieux
Fort Solid Waste Disposal Sites

• Site 4/00 3/01 4/01 3/02 4/02 3/
  03
• Ciceron 56,928 49,603
  43,815
• V. Fort 26,249 24,061 23,270
• Source SLSWMA Annual Report 2002/3

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken Ship-Generated Waste

• St. Lucia signs MARPOL and drafts legislation
• Modest reception facilities placed at main ports
  and marinas
• Improved monitoring of ships Waste Record Books
  by Ministry of Health

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken Bio-hazardous Waste

• Bio-hazardous Waste Management Strategy developed
• Includes ALSO asbestos, waste oil, lead-acid
  batteries and spent agro-chemicals
• Lead-acid batteries collected at garages etc.
• Waste oil collected at various points
• Biomedical waste plans being implemented

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken 4 Rs

• Limited waste diversion
• Tyres diverted at Deglos SLF, shredded and used
  as fill (256 tonnes in 7 months)
• Environmental levy imposed on certain items,
  which is refunded upon export
• Returnable Containers Act proposed by Prime
  Minister in 2003 budget

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Actions taken Public Awareness/Education

• Sustained public awareness programmes introduced,
  using mascots, logos, brochures, newsletters,
  posters, videos, radio programmes, newspaper
  columns and Public Service Announcements
• Alliances forged with multiples partners,
  including CBOs and private sector
• National Clean-up Activities

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Cost of Operations

• Expenses grew from US600,000 in 1995 to US4M by
  2002/03 (incl. Admin 0.4M Collection 2.3M
  Landfill 1M)
• Environmental levy of US1.50/cruise passenger
  generates 30 of revenue needed
• Small revenue from recycling ship waste
• Remainder of costs subsidized by Govt

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Cost Recovery

• Proposed tipping fee not instituted
• Cost recovery plan before Government for
  consideration
• Includes household levy on property tax
• Includes levy on specific imported goods (cars
  tyres disposable containers packaging)
• Proposes future levy on agrochemicals etc

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Conclusions

• Establishment of SLSWMA served as catalyst for
  development of waste management policies
  strategies
• SWM practices standardized across island
• Collection and disposal services vastly improved
• SWM now a relatively high profile issue
• Low level of waste minimization

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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The Way Forward

• Address additional hazardous waste streams
• Support enforcement of Litter Act etc.
• Utilize data generated to inform decisions
• Introduce new COST RECOVERY measures
• Clarify roles of agencies and build capacity
• Focus on WASTE REDUCTION/Diversion
• Increase public awareness education

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
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Thank you for your time!!
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute