Bahamas Eco-Forum

Waste-to-Energy Projects Touted for Bahamas

by Larry Smith

One technology that could solve a range of environmental problems at the same time is the production of energy from garbage.

At least two firms are pursuing multi-million-dollar, waste-to-energy projects with the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for solid waste collection and disposal.

Health Minister Talks About Garbage Reduction

by Bahamas Information Services

Recycling and mulching techniques could help to reduce the amount of garbage that is being deposited at the Harrold Road dump, according to Minister of Health and Social Development, Dr. Hubert Minnis.

Dr. Minnis said he will present a comprehensive report to Cabinet outlining the role that recycling and mulching can play in garbage reduction. He said a study completed by local environmental health officials indicated that at least 40 per cent of garbage within The Bahamas can be recycled and another 20 per cent can be mulched.

“And so therefore, once you have the appropriate programmes in place, those two measures can automatically remove 60 per cent of the garbage, which means that the lifespan of the landfill can quadruple while eliminating many of the fires we see at the site today," the minister said.

Editor's Note: At least two proposals are in the works for large-scale waste reduction and waste to energy projects in the Bahamas. More information will be provided on this site shortly.

Plastic Grocery Bags Waste Oil & Damage Environment

by Larry Smith

Plastic shopping bags are "a frivolous emblem of our wasteful society." They are a cost to retailers, to the environment, and to us. And we could easily do without them.

The statistics are staggering. Just 5000 folks will go through a million plastic shopping bags every year At almost one bag per person per day; the 320,000 people on New Providence use 116 million bags every year.

Melville's Two Cents-Worth

•David Melville comes from a family of New England shoe makers, which traded as Thom McCan - once America’s top-selling footwear brand. In 1977 he bought over 800 acres on Rum Cay, and later set up the island's first hostelry - the Rum Cay Dive Club. He lived at Port Nelson on Rum Cay until 2005, when he moved back to the US.

by David Melville

Not from expertise, but from experience on Rum Cay, I recommend the following:

For electricity, think in terms of combinations of wind turbines and solar panels, with added tidal rotors where applicable. Panels alone take up too much space but every roof top should be covered with them.  Wind generators of all sizes, not just the mammoth commercial sizes, should be considered as several can be installed on each tower. Diesel should be for emergency only.

For AC, most inhabited islands and cays have some shore facing a steep drop-off to deep, cold water.  (Sandy Point, Rum Cay, has 6000 feet just a short distance off shore.) Only a few islands could not feasibly participate in this energy-saving method called ocean thermal energy conversion.

For recycling, start an educational program NOW. It is proven fact that soft drinks are the single most pernicious cause of many diseases like diabetes and obesity as they contain up to 35% sugar.  Strive to wean Bahamians away from sodas and get rid of tons of aluminum cans, which also are toxic.

That's my two cents-worth. 

The Problems of Recycling in the Bahamas

by Ginny Mckinney

Solid waste disposal and recycling are both problems in the Bahamian out islands.

In most cases the government has either farmed out trash collection to a local person or people just truck their own garbage to the landfill (dump, pit, whatever is being used) .

The landfill/dump is usually on Crown Land and run by the government. In most places they are still burning the accumulated garbage. Local administrations have been pushing to create landfills and transfer stations on Islands with fairly large populations, using a loan from the InterAmerican Development Bank, which was negotiated by the government over 10 years ago.