The Tribune

By Ricardo Wells

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS from Renew Bahamas yesterday insisted that despite a recent spate of fires at the Harold Road landfill the company is still “on schedule” with plans to build the nation’s first materials recycling facility.

President and CEO of Renew Bahamas Gerhard Beukes announced at the beginning of the month plans for “the multi-faceted, 125,000 square foot facility”, the start of converting one of the nation’s biggest issues into a true “Bahamian success story”.

During his presentation to the Rotary Club of West Nassau, Mr Beukes shed new light on the project, detailing a number of steps the company has undertaken to meet their April opening date.

Officials indicated that they are well on their way to having all major “civil work” completed allowing engineers to complete the second phase of construction. In November executives installed a new weight bridge system that allowed the facility to accurately determine the amount of waste entering the site.

Mr Beukes said the company’s next step would be the installation of two recycling lines and an industrial baler covering an area of 67,000 square feet. Executives indicated that the majority of materials needed for this phase are presently on site and ready to use.

The company would then install two picking lines, taking the overall development to 125,000 square feet.

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 Harold Road site, the company has been plagued by arson attacks at the landfill, a problem that has persisted for decades. Renew Bahamas officials yesterday revealed that they are working to bring an end to the smoke emanating from their site due to recent fires. In recent weeks, there has been an increase in complaints from residents near the site about smoke.

Officials believe that recycling waste material could result in more job opportunities; and cut the landfill’s “environmental footprint” and the occurrence of fires.