You are hereGarbage and Waste
Garbage and Waste
Major grease blockage causes sewage back-up into homes
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--At least four homes and a number of businesses were flooded with raw sewage on Wednesday night while a crew from Windward Roads was clearing the main sewage line of extreme clogging by grease deposits. The sewage backed up into the pipes that connect the homes and businesses to the main sewage line and literally exploded through the toilet bowls.
The flow of sewage lasted for several minutes, sending residents into a panic and out of their homes. Adding insult to their injury, the residents said they could not get a straight answer from Windward Roads or Government about who is going to be held responsible for the damage to their property.
Govt seeks independent review of waste system
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance (NA)/Heyliger government is seeking to have the firm KEMA conduct an independent cost and quality control/feasibility study of the proposed waste-to-energy plant that is to be built by Windward Roads Infrastructure to tackle the island’s growing garbage problem.
Approval for the control was tabled in the Central Committee Monday, because it will cost more than 100,000 euros, which excesses the amount that the Executive Council is allowed to sign off on without Island Council approval.
DRASTIC PLASTIC
The following statement was issued by The Royal Society towards the end of 2009: "Since the millennium, we have produced nearly as much plastic as in the prior half-century. Next year, 300 million tonnes of plastic will be manufactured worldwide and one-third of all plastics will go into packaging.” If that statement doesn’t sound very worrying, then think again, because it should scare the hell out of you.
‘Shine St. Maarten’ to clean island for Easter
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--“Shine St. Maarten” is the title of an island-wide clean up and beautification campaign aimed at making the island sparkle in time for Easter. Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin made the announcement in his New Year’s Message.
He said, “I consider our natural environment our most valuable legacy. We owe it to those to whom we will leave our island to ensure that our environment is an enhanced legacy.”
Scientology Freewinds Enviro Criminals?
.
Bonaire-State of emergency Part 2
For some years now down in Bonaire, Sean Paton has been fighting to stop the Scientology ship Freewinds from dumping it's raw untreated sewage and waste into the bush lands and ditches of the island. We have covered it here several times and tried to bring some exposure to the issue.
The latest videos from Sean show us that the water table of Bonaire now appears to be contaminated and that several wells should, in any self respecting country, be closed to public use. It would seem though that the Government of Bonaire is not self respecting, it has seemingly done NOTHING to stop this dumping by Freewinds. It's is interesting though that now they have taken to doing the dumping at night.
Please watch the two videos above and please leave a message on You Tube in support of Sean.
SXM's Gasification Waste Plant
As reported on SXM PE previously, Theo is moving, albeit at a snails pace, in putting together a solution for the dump and waste. His solution is a gasification plant, a process that is being used in many places around the World and which may well be the best solution for us, considering we have no recycling, no public awareness and no sorting programs of any kind. This plant will 'gasify' 95% of our waste.
The real story here, isn't it always, is just how this plant is going to be set up and who is going to manage it. LH wrote about that selection process back in January. News reaching me mention something about a company that Dollison set up a couple decades ago, which has been inactive, but will be part of this operation. Yes, the same Dollison that it is rumored SOAB have suggested be removed from his current position.
It is also rumored that Windward Roads, the same people who have done such a great job managing the dump so far, will also have a role to play.
Batch gasification facility being looked at for waste management
PHILIPSBURG--The Daily Herald has learned that the Island Government is considering investing in a batch gasification plant to manage waste, and subsequently provide an additional five to six megawatts in energy to the island’s electricity grid. Although no details could be obtained about the type of gasification plant and its specifications, it is understood the facility would cost government approximately US $100 million. [More....]
Cake House bans plastic
L.B. SCOTT ROAD--Taking the Green Acts pledge of the TzuChi Foundation, Cake House Supermarkets have started with the third step of the pledge of “frugal living” by banning the use of plastic bags in all their locations. Cake House Floor Manager Reiner Cheung, noting that management of Cake House are the founders of the local TzuChi Foundation and practice Master Cheng Yen’s teachings, explained why the initiative was taken. [More....]
ICC 2009 a success says St. Maarten Pride
PHILIPSBURG - On Saturday September 19th. 2009 hundreds of volunteers turned out and braved the rains for the Sint Maarten's leg of the International Coastal Cleanup. Held around the world in 100 countries and 6 continents on the same day, the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup is the largest volunteer event of it's kind. On Sint Maarten, cleanup sites were the Mullet Bay Beach, Mullet Pond, Point Blanche Beach and an under water diving cleanup around two reef sites.[More....]
Government inspectors dealing with septic issues
PHILIPSBURG--The Departments of Environment & Hygiene and Public Works both have inspectors in the field to determine from where septic water in various neighbourhoods is originating. Within the last week, residents in at least three districts have complained to The Daily Herald about unbearable sewage water in their neighbourhood coming from privately owned properties. [More....]
