Overview
The Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) has been operating as a statutory body since 1970, and its services now reach 98% of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The CWSA manages water catchments and provides efficient and affordable water supply systems. Additionally, it oversees waste management through the Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU), which includes curb-side waste collection, special waste collection upon request, and white goods collection. The fleet includes flatbed dump trucks, skip trucks, compactor trucks, a small backhoe, a track loader/bulldozer, a pickup truck, and metal balers.
There are five landfills in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Two are in St. Vincent, and three are in the Grenadines: Diamond Landfill, Belle-Isle Landfill, Bequia Landfill, Canouan Landfill, and Union Island Landfill. CWSA opened the Belle Isle landfill in 2004 with a lifespan of 25 years (not fully utilized) and completed the Diamond Landfill in September 2021 with a lifespan of 20 years.
The CWSA also collaborates with private entities for commercial waste management and operates programs for recycling and removing unusable vehicles from the road. The CWSA collects and disposes of all domestic wastes in SVG, while the Commercial waste is managed by Private Refuse Garbage Disposal (PRGB) a private entity that manages waste.
Legislations governing waste management in SVG include the National Solid Waste Management Act, the Litter Act, the Environmental Health Services Act and other Acts that can be found at https://www.cwsasvg.com/about-us. The regulatory body for waste management is the Public Health Department in the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Environment. While domestic waste is not segregated, a private company, All Islands Recycling Inc., recycles plastic bottles and aluminium waste.
CWSA faces challenges such as the long wait time for specialized vehicle parts due to importation, illegal dumping in certain areas, and the need for more backup trucks and equipment to enhance waste disposal efficiency. The country's topography necessitates the use of smaller trucks to navigate narrow roads, leading to the requirement for multiple trips within specific neighborhoods. Efforts are ongoing to raise awareness and advocate for change in waste management practices.
See waste management indicators for 2021 and 2022.
|
Year |
Waste disposed |
|---|---|
|
2021 |
238,328 m3 |
|
2022 |
222,462 m3 |
Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal
Waste collection in the Grenadines includes curb-side collection and the collection of bulky white goods twice a week. The management of grey water is the responsibility of the public health department in the town. Homes have grease traps, and two contracted companies with septic tanks pump out greywater from the landfill.
The blackwater is managed through a sewer system in Kingstown that has an outfall into the sea. Blackwater extracted from soak away pits is disposed of in a septage lagoon outside the diamond landfill. Additionally, chemicals and enzymes are applied to restore the system to equilibrium if the bacteria level is low.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
In SVG, hazardous wastes such as asbestos, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, and e-waste are buried in landfills. CWSA collects used automobile oils in drums and recovers the gas from air conditioners before burying the units.
Medical Waste Overview and Disposal
The hospitals use hazardous bags for medical waste and sharp boxes for sharps. They also arrange for the pickup of expired pharmaceuticals for disposal. All of these waste materials are sent to a landfill and buried. Chemotherapy waste is stored in metal drums, concrete is poured on top to encapsulate it and then stockpiled. The incinerators are not working, but the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment plans to procure new ones. There are plans to develop a healthcare waste management system to enhance medical waste management in SVG.
