Regional Evaluation Municipal Solid Waste Management Services. Country Analytical Report, British Virgin Islands. Evaluation 2002

Abstract

[Introduction] The process of developing the data required to produce Evaluation 2002 was carried out by the Solid Waste Department of the Government of the British Virgin Islands. Cooperation was received from the Development Planning Unit (DPU) and from outside consultants employed on other related projects in the Territory. Since the BVI is a small country, all participating bodies or agencies are connected directly to the central national government. Although the BVI is a dependent territory under loose control of the UK Government, all internal affairs (including solid waste management) are under local control and are the responsibility of the government. The Government is elected by popular vote. The maximum term is five years although the average period between elections is usually somewhat shorter than that. Solid waste management is a significant factor in local planning strategy. The physical aspect of the main island, Tortola, is such that there is very little available land which is truly suitable for the operation of a secure sanitary landfill. This factor alone makes volume reduction of solid waste a major requirement in any solid waste management plan. Originally, this reduction was achieved by open burning with some covering of the burned waste. Open burning, with the accompanying smoke and odour was a major problem in the tourist and residential areas located downwind of the disposal sites. The combined factors of lack of adequate sites and nuisance led to the decision to install a municipal solid waste incinerator. The incinerator is located on the largest (and most populated) island, Tortola. The remaining major islands - Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dyke - still practice open burning as a means of volume reduction. This is considered adequate for the present when the low population levels are taken into account.