GOVERNMENT is hoping to finish, by the end of August, all ongoing projects at the Haags Bosch Sanitation Landfill (HBSL) that was opened, more than two years ago, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

That target is in keeping with the Inter-American Development Bank’s US$20M contract deadline, the media was told at a Wednesday briefing in the administrative building at the site by Head of the Solid Waste Management Programme, Mr. Gordon Gilkes.
He indicated that Haags Bosch is the standard landfill in Guyana, as it is comprised of four cells and, thus far, only 60 percent of it has been occupied.
According to the site supervisor, Mr. Mikel Lambertini, it is an excellent one, as the entire system of dumping there has been redesigned.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill said he is quite pleased to join with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to launch the awareness campaign as it relates to Haags Bosch and, most particularly, to highlight the role that waste pickers have been playing in the process.
He said persons need to move from the mentality of having too much garbage in their surroundings and dumping it all over just because they have not got enough space in their yards or compounds.
Management of solid waste is important as it will be with us as long as we have humans living on the planet, Edghill pointed out.
More waste
He stated that, when a country is developing, persons will have greater access to money and more disposable income will rise and the level of imports, including that of canned foods and bottled products. As a result of packaging, there will be more cardboards and overall, more waste.
Edghill said persons need to look closer at the solid waste situation and, as the country develops more on a daily basis, the aspect of recycling will need to be handled in a more aggressive manner.
He acknowledged the importance of Private Sector involvement in putting up recycling plants which will be of major assistance in Guyana.
The Government has made a significant investment by way of securing a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) of almost US$20M to ensure the necessities are in place and the minister said he has also met with consultants and experts who highlighted the positives that have resulted from moving the Mandela Avenue landfill to Haags Bosch and, so far, it has been labeled a “success story”.
He remarked that it is a well implemented programme aimed at improving the lives of many persons by generating income, for example, the lives of scrap metal dealers who find most of their merchandise at the location.
Edghill remarked, though, that the funding will come to an end and more will be needed to continue the project.
He suggested that a fee should be charged for waste disposal, noting that some companies already do this.
Nevertheless, he applauded those initiatives by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry for proper waste disposal and making sure that it is done in a proper manner and ensuring that other Administrative Regions in Guyana are also involved.
Edghill emphasised that it is very important to ensure that the Solid Waste Management Committee is functional, mentioning that, with facilities like this, in areas where residents dwell, the issue of odour will arise from time to time and the government is asking people to be patient and understanding, as this is the country’s first such landfill and it is a learning process where many persons are benefitting immensely.
Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker acknowledged the contributions of recyclers and the works the waste pickers have been doing in the country and, more importantly, at the site.
He stated that the ministry has been assessing the development of all such programmes and learnt of issues such as odour and compaction.
Whittaker said the Haags Bosch is a work in progress that is being developed and many would be wishing to see it replicated.
With assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the programme is turning out to be quite a success, he admitted.
Whittaker said each Region is invited to express their interest in more such solid waste programmes, that is those who are involved in the collection and disposal of solid waste.
He said everyone will continue to benefit from this landfill, the name by which it should be referred to and not a dumpsite.
The minister spoke about persons who are dumping their waste on the access road to the landfill and expressed concern over it, stating that it is quite an unsafe practice from which persons should desist.
Many complications
He said extending the opening and closing time of the facility has many complications. However, as it is a very big issue, the ministry is bent on working towards improving that situation as well.
Whittaker stressed the importance of practising proper waste disposal, as it leads to environmental and health issues.
He declared that Haags Bosch is a national treasure, as compared to the previous dump site at Mandela Avenue and Guyanese should be proud of it.
Note should be taken that there may be problems, at times, but those should be taken in steps as efforts are made to ensure compliance with the contractual agreement.
Whittaker disclosed that the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, would be taking, to Parliament soon, a solid waste bill, which would state that all households/businesses must have a garbage receptacle.
He said contracts were signed between the ministry and the other nine Regions, with the exception of Region 4 (in which is the Haags Bosch site) to collect and dispose of their garbage within their respective boundaries.
Contracts were also made between the respective regions and a contractor for the collection and disposal of garbage, Whittaker said.
On Wednesday, too, bicycles were handed over to waste pickers, in order to help them with transport to the site and, among those witnessing the presentation were staff of the ministry, including Permanent Secretary, Mr. Collin Croal, Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green, Acting Town Clerk, Ms. Carol Sooba and City Councillor Patricia Chase- Green.