Why Choose Trinidad & Tobago: Waste Disposal: The Challenge & The Opportunity
Marc Sandy Research Economist Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’ Association
Waste Disposal:
The Challenge & The Opportunity
50 • Business Trinidad & Tobago
D
eveloping more energy efficient approaches to conducting business and managing waste are two of the major challenges confronting companies in Trinidad and Tobago. This article will highlight the scope of the waste management challenges that are before us as a country, and point to the investment opportunities that await local and foreign businessmen who are willing to be pioneers in an industry that is expected to be in full bloom within the next decade. Why get into the waste business? Does this industry really have any sustainable value in it for me as a businessman/investor? When one examines the data on waste generation in Trinidad and Tobago, it is clear that the rising levels of waste cannot be attributed solely to production. T&T arguably engages in the highest levels of consumption in the English-speaking Caribbean, ranking higher than Jamaica, Barbados and St. Lucia in terms of waste generated per person (in kilogrammes, per day, according to 2010 data). This presents a mounting challenge for our government to manage. According to the Solid Waste Management Company Ltd (SWMCOL): “Solid waste management, by definition, is the administration, collection, transportation and treatment of solid waste. The ultimate goal of solid waste management is to continuously lower the amount of waste that is generated per capita.” SWMCOL manages and operates three major landfills in Trinidad and Tobago at Beetham, Forres Park and Guanapo. The waste that enters these three landfills can be categorised into rubber, textiles, plastics, metals, glass, paper and organics. More recently, electronic waste or e-waste and vehicles are two major sub-categories for consideration. When one examines vehicle waste alone, SWMCOL data revealed that over 330,000 vehicles entered the three major landfills in 2010, an increase of 43 per cent when compared to the year 2000! This alarming figure, which actually represents a drop from the 2008 and 2009 figures, is only a microcosm of the wider waste picture in Trinidad and Tobago While one can appreciate the heavy challenge (and eventual opportunities) that lie in the management (and hopefully recycling) of vehicle waste in T&T, additional data reveals that an average of 15 per cent of all landfill waste locally is derived from plastics. Our research has revealed that every month, Trinidad and