AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye SPTC to address waste management at the transfer station

The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) is working with the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWMA) to address waste management on the island. The BSWMA visited the island's transfer station and learned that the handling of rubbish was unorganized. In the past, they had recommended the separation of waste; this was reportedly never done. Therefore, the SPTC will engage in an educational campaign to encourage islanders to separate their household rubbish before being picked up and transported to the transfer station.

Mayor Gualberto 'Wally' Nu�ez recalled that when they visited the transfer station located south of downtown, they discovered a mountain of garbage. There was clearly no separation of waste, and the facility was almost full. Nu�ez said personnel from BSWMA made arrangements and have managed to alleviate the problem by significantly separating the rubbish. The separation inside the station now includes an area only for metals, green waste, and household discarded items. According to Nu�ez, Solid Waste Management will be stricter and require garbage to be separated before dumping. "We will have to start to do an educational campaign, so people start to separate their garbage," said Nu�ez. Representatives of the SPTC will visit households, explain why it is essential to sort out their waste and how it should be done.

The town board plans to eliminate green waste (biodegradable material) by dumping it in a designated area. According to the Mayor, they will be using the site known as the 'old dump' to discard organic waste. The fees for dumping garbage at the old dump are expected to increase; thus, the town council will adjust fees for businesses. It is important to note that discarded items like electric appliances, stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, old batteries, and even mattresses will not be picked up by the sanitation department. Residents are responsible for must getting this litter to the transfer station.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

Good work by Town Board - good reporting by the Sun. Thank you!