—proposes modern landfills, recycling and tough penalties as minister says no development without fixing waste management
THE government’s aggressive push to modernise waste management across Guyana will see the establishment of environmentally sound landfill sites nationwide, along with the implementation of standard operations and strict monitoring and enforcement, as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, has cautioned that national development cannot continue without fixing improper waste disposal practices.
The minister made these remarks today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) where the national consultation on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Bill is ongoing.
70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) from across the country along with government agencies, regional organs and key stakeholders, are currently present to participate in the examination and discussion of the proposed legislation aimed at strengthening Guyana’s solid waste management framework.
“Today, your voices will be heard. Today, your opinions will be recorded. Today, you will get a chance to contribute to what this legislation looks like, what this law is going to look like [and how we will shape Guyana through this legislation. We don’t take any comments or any contribution lightly, and you will see that during the day.
“There’s a team here to record your contribution, your efforts, so that we could make sure we benefit from what you know in your communities that we don’t yet know that,” the minister said.
Minister Manickchand, during her remarks, pointed out that Guyana is growing at an exponential rate than ever before and the rapid building out of the country is seeing an increase in waste disposal in multiple sectors, including housing, construction and commerce.
However, she stated that waste management is not unique to the coast but there are challenges faced by hinterland communities.
“We cannot be a country that grows beautifully in all those areas that I just spoke about, but we’re filthy and sick and nasty in how we dispose of our waste,” she said.
Under the proposed legislation, there will be a holistic approach to waste management, including the establishment of modern landfill sites.
This will be the driving force in abandoning the waste disposal culture that has become “almost endemic and inherent,” the minister said
The modern landfill sites, along with other standard waste management operations, will move away from traditional waste disposal and toward waste separation, recycling, and overall environmentally sound disposal methods.
In addition, the bill envisions exploring waste-to-energy and waste-to-fertilizer technologies, as well as waste management models tailored to the capacity of individual NDCs.
“So this is a holistic effort by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development under the leadership of His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali, that would see us bringing in the country’s first solid waste management law,” the minister said, noting that this will not be standard but as Guyana evolves, so will the law.
WASTE MANAGEMENT STIPULATIONS
Within the draft regulations, there are several parts which speak to the standards for waste management operations outlined, licences and permits, operational standards for licence and permit holders, requirements for solid waste management facilities, environmental standards, waste management facility closure requirements and finally, monitoring and enforcement.
It has been stated that the occupier of the premise would be legally required to store waste in containers which are non-absorbent, waste-tight, vector-resistant, durable, easily cleanable and designed for safe handling.
The draft regulations also clamp down on overflowing bins and the management of waste that would pose a nuisance to neighbouring properties.
The regulations would also make it mandatory for the separation of wastes into several categories, including that of hazardous waste, construction and demolition debris along with vegetative materials, recyclable materials, and mixed municipal waste.
Property owners of four or more residential or commercial units will also be required to ensure that there is adequate space provided for the storage of waste containers.
Such a measure would take effect and affect commercial properties and apartment complexes nationwide.
Further, the draft regulations make it clear that “A person shall not tamper with, modify or remove solid waste from a waste container which is provided for use as a waste container by a holder of a waste haulage permit without the permission of the holder of the waste haulage permit.”
Any person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million dollars or to one year imprisonment or to both.
On the subject matter of derelict vehicles, which have long been a complaint by citizens, the regulations propose that those types of waste, along with white goods and other scrap metals, that are taken to a landfill or other approved site for disposal shall be dismantled, cut up and baled for recycling.
A person shall not dispose of waste tyres except at a waste tyre processing facility, the regulations further stipulate.
The regulations also propose strict disposals of used oil, special waste and biomedical waste.
