The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE Meridian School was scheduled to meet with representatives from Renew Bahamas last night, after the school was forced to close three times in three weeks because of a massive blaze at the city dump.

School Principal Lisa Goudie said although the fire has been an inconvenience, school officials do not blame Renew Bahamas for the smoke and understand “what the company is going through”.

“We closed for three days in the last three weeks because the smoke was so bad. It disrupted the school days and we worked hard to make up for the last time. We don’t always get hit at the school (with smoke), it depends on which direction the wind is blowing in. If it is blowing from the north then we get the smoke but Renew Bahamas has been very good to us,” she said.

“They send us emails every morning, in time for us to be able to let our parents know ahead of time there will be no school. Luckily, no kids have been sick and the students who have asthma their parents keep them home anyway. So, we are looking to partner with Renew because they have been brilliant in trying to assist the community.”

Renew Bahamas is the solid waste management company contracted by government in January of 2014 to manage and operate the nation’s largest landfill. Company officials have said they are focused on establishing a sustainable waste management industry in the Bahamas.

Since commencing operations at the Harrold Road site the company has been plagued by arson attacks at the landfill, a problem that has persisted for decades. On Monday, Renew Bahamas reported that they were battling two new fires at the site despite only having a January 17 blaze “90 per cent” contained.

Last March, a fire burned at the dump for several weeks, causing school closures and discomfort for nearby residents.

On Tuesday, Renew Bahamas formally announced plans to build and manage the nation’s first materials recycling facility at the Harrold Road landfill site.

Officials believe that recycling waste material could reduce the landfill’s “environmental footprint” and occurrence of fires.