St. Maarten Private Eye

My Name is Georgino Barnes and I was also at the presentation from Eco-Dec. I have followed the presentation carefully, to get a good understanding how the company processes the waste. I did further research afterwards to learn as much as possible about this waste treatment from the perspective of both the companies and the environmentalist groups. What I have learned so far is the following:

Eco-Dec refered to their process as MBT (mechanical biological treatment), but further research revealed that it is actually a BMT (Biological mechanical treatment) process. The difference between the 2 is that MBT uses mechanical methods first to seperate recoverable material from the organic before biologically processing it. BMT does ithe process in reverse by first letting the mix waste biologicaly degrade and there after sperate the recoverable materials from the compost. Both process are theoretically the same but each take a different approach in processing waste.

I studied numerous websites from MBT/BMT plants to learn how many more methods are there in processing waste. There is one company "Arrow Bio" that uses the MBT approach and with the organics and paper have them go through a process to produce Biogas. Biogas is viewed by many envionmental groups as a green gas as opposed to petrol gas. What is remarkable about the process from Arrow Bio is that with the amount of gas they produce they can generate 5 times the amount of energy that the plant actually requires to operate.

One optional product mentioned by Eco-dec in the presentation is the production of RDF (refuse derived fuel). Eco-Dec's claim is that it is safe and non toxic and can be used to produce energy, although the dutch side wouldn't be able to produce enough to supply a small power plant. Further research about RDF reveals that many environmental groups around the world oppose this product because it contains high quantity of plastics. Burning of RDF result in exhaust emission equal to that of diesel engines because RDF is a petrol based fuel.

Another MBT plant that I have researched on the internet is ISKAH from Germany and it bears very much resemblance to that of Eco-Dec. The website contains several brochures including a 20 page book describing the different configurations, processes, advantages and disadvatages as well as numerous exisitng plants in operation, or to be built soon.

One last waste treatment company I will mention is Wastec Ltd from England. Their company is more flexible in their process of being able to adapt to different methods of waste management such as MBT, waste to energy and other processes. Most St. Maarteners including me as well are already against and incinerator (waste to energy). Wastec developed a method for sorting waste in Material Recovery Treatment (MRT) that is more relaiable and efficient than traditional MRF that has to rely heavily on manual labour just to keep things running efficient. The difference is a device called the Kinetic Streamer.

What the kinetic streamer does is take mixed waste and devide them into 2 primary groups; the flimsy materials and the rigid materials. Once devided into these 2 groups it became alot easier and efficient to seperate the materials using exisitng methods, without having to rely much on manual sorting.
Wastec later realised that their kinetic streamer can be easily adaptable for many different kinds of waste treatment where there was also a need to recover materials, most popular of them is the MBT.

I have personally contacted this company and requested a brochure and video to observe and understand the process based around their kinetic streamer. What I have seen so far is even yet another alternative still for St. Maarten or even have it incorporated with an MBT sytem. Even batteries and other items that other waste companies would try to collect seperately have gone mixed in the system and got sorted out. Ideal for when in the early stages of recycling and re-educating the people.

My whole opinion in all of this is that when we do finally incorporate waste management plant here on st. Maarten we should look carefully at what materials/products we can produce in order to profit from the waste we created. Further more also see a way of gradually recovering what materials there is still recoverable from the dump, as well as remove the most of the dirt in order to enlargen the pond again. This way overtime we can enalrgen it for both historical values as well as enlarging the reservoir to collect rainwater from the hills.

Which ever way you look at it, our dump is no longer the answer due to the amount of garbage produced by both residents and visiotrs alike. The time has come for an alternative right now.

People like you give me hope for the island.

I note your comments on incineration. Possibly we could look to the east for our problem. Not China or Russia, but St Barts ! They have what appears to be a very well managed incinerator which is small and inconspicuous.

I am responding to an anonymous, I have no idea why anyone would want to stay anonymous with this issue as the landfill or dump depot affect us all.
Health wise, environmental wise, litter wise, eyesore.
I will respond to the incenerator in St.Barths as I know it, I am not totally in the loop with all info, but here is what I have:
The incenerator in St.Barths was paid for by the European Union, it is a small incenerator.
At the time, I understood that the St.Barths government did ask St.Maarten if they would be interested in exporting their trash to St.Barths, there was no response (unconfirmed)
I am talking about many years ago, this incerator is not new to St.Barths.
It has been said to me that the incenerator in St.Barths is an old unit, and if you are reffering to bringing the same type of unit here, I would say it would not work.
If you were present at the ECDOC presentation last wednesday, you would understand why.
The incenerator in St.Barths is located at the end of the Gustavia, not a good location today I think.
Maybe when it was set up, Gustavia was not so built up.
I noticed also a cement plant of sorts nearby as well, Gustavia has gone through a built up period as well, seems that Mayor Magras of St.Barths owns the cement plant.
Please keep in mind that an incenerator does not accept all the trash that you might think it does.
You cannot throw car tyres, green waste, many types of plastics in an incenerator.
Reason why St.Barths has implemented ridding the island of plastic shopping bags, shoppers have to take their own shopping basket or enviro bags to the grocery stores.
Mr. Chouraki stated this in his presentation, he said inceneration does not burn many plastics, but also recylcling some plastics is difficult.
So even with a recycling plant, the supermarkets should get rid of the plastic bags, or offer enviro friendly alternatives.
I urge you to find the thursday edition of the French Newspaper Le Pelican and read for yourself a very good piece of journalism written about our landfill, about recycling and what Jean Luc Hamlet has to say.

Jadira Veen

I wonder if the EXCO gave an answer to the Queen or wondering what excuse they will give, since they had no interest in coming to the gathering we had as an alternative, as they slowly watch the elderly dying of toxic fumes and the younger generation aquiring symtoms of upper resperatory infections. I was at the Government building when she arrived and wonderd why she was riding in the bus, when the Lt. Governor and Head of Government were in the Lincoln Town Car, but then again if she would not of been on the bus sitting directly behind the driver, she may not of seen the Landfill. Doe's anyone have an answer as to why her Majesty was riding in a bus instead of a limousine?.

Dear Larry,

I would only answer to say that her majesty is a modest hardworking lady.
I had the pleasure to meet her in 2001 at the Belvedere housing project.
The meeting was an initiative of our Lt. Governor F.Richards who had organised one of the first community gatherings.
This was before the many community councils were even formed.
I remember that Floryn catering had set up a long table with plastic chairs and one very "Majestic" looking chair for her Majesty.
The Queen came to the table, took one look of the "royal looking out of place chair" and asked if she can also sit in a plastic chair.
So my guess is that she most probably preffers to ride in the bus with the dignataries and other people, than to ride in the Lt. Governors car or a limo.
She also can get more feedback while sitting in the bus with many others, while they are talking, than alone in the limo.
I heard Suzanne saying on Island 92 that her Majesty asked very critical questions to the EXCO, about very current issues.
I am sure the Dutch newspapers will be full of news covering her Majesty visit, so people should read online, as our papers will not be out untill Monday.
I only wish that her Majesty had the oppertunity to meet and speak to some of the environmentalists on this trip.
PJIA was officially opened by her Majesty last evening to a well attended crowd I heard.
My question is: what is PJIA doing with the construction debris of the old PJIA building that is being torn down?
Philipsburg landfill or Simpson Bay lagoon?

Jadira

Dear Jadira:

We could probably count on two things and that is either the Land fill or Lagoon. You know it is a shame that our Government has not taken the time or effort to realize that the enviornment of our Island is so important for now and future generations. Talk about lack of Governance. We sure have it. A 10 th grade dropout from school (Walt Disney was such) can realize that the old junk rusty toxic automobiles and trucks we have just piling up on the Island would be enough to build a skyscrapper in New York City or any other large City for that matter, but please not our Island. Progress is one thing but destruction of the enviornment for such is another, I guess we should call as even an Tourist can see GREED AND CORRUPTION. AND PERSONAL GAIN against the will of the people. Japan and many countries would actually pay us for the scrap metal and at a lower price they would probably collect it and ship it on barges at no cost. We could use that money for Education and our Youth, as we know our Youth are our future. Why can't our Government get it. The people of the U.S finally got it and voted out the Party that used religion and conservatism and greed for the select few as an excuse for their wrongful judgements in their policys, The one thing they misjudged was the will of the people and it was proven on November 7th. We need to do the same thing on the upcoming elections here on the Island in May..

Hey, you never know...... I am pretty sure Suzanne and other journalists know of this site and perhaps she mentioned SXM PE. Or maybe someone else will while she is here, she could learn quite alot I am sure.

If you are reading this, Your Majesty, then I offer my fullhearted welcome to SXM PE and to your Kingdom Island of Sint Maarten. Please feel free to ask questions below or drop me a line at flippersxm at yahoo dot com if I can be of any assistance.

You never know :)

Flipper

First of all, we do not prodice enough garbage, even with the French side added.
Secondly, where would they put it, on the pondfill? Right, I'm sure that will be good for the health of the people downwind. I understand the incinerator in Aruba is far from habitation and blows out to sea.
Roy has hooked himself up, or his family, with a company called St Maarten Waste Mangement, you can see many of the big bins with their name on it. He is trying to make a deal for the incinerator without consulting any of the stakeholders. I wonder if he plans to take garbage from the cruise ships for the incinerator too?? The guy is a crook and an idiot, I don't think he plans to run next year, so he really doesn't care about what people think.