Presenter: Cassian Henry Organization: St. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority Title: Zonal Supervisor.

Presenter: Cassian Henry

Organization: St. Lucia SolidWaste Management Authority

Title: Zonal Supervisor

St. Lucia National Trust

Sustainable CommunitiesConsultation

March 11, 2015

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Theme:

Urban Sustainability Featuring Composting Models in Recycling Options(Solutions)

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Beneficiaries

• Vieux Fort Urban Community (Public and Private)

• Pointe Sabre Environmental Protection Agency (PSEPA)

• You (Audience)• Our Island• The Natural Environment

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What do you know?

Define Urban Community – city or town dwellingRecycle – reuse in different formSustain – to maintain, continueCompost – change by processSolution – answer, end of problem

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Facts You Must Know About Urban Compostable Waste

1. Annually increased tonnage of compostable solid wastes disposed in landfill

2. Animal manure pollute water catchments, rivers and streams; pig farms, poultry, etc

3. Island-wide illegal dumping of green waste4. No major composting on island – households, farms,

institutions, commercial, etc5. Compostable waste reduction and diversion on minor

scale

Have You Observed Compostable Waste Problems

Have You Observed Compostable Waste Problems

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What We Must Do

1. Divert compostable wastes away from the disposal facilities – landfills

2. Increase compost use and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals

3. Stop illegal dumping of all wastes

Vieux Fort Disposal Site record of green waste (GW) tonnage from the entire southern half of the island (Dennery - Soufriere) for the period April 2012 - March 2014

April.12 May.12 Jun.12 Jul.12 Aug.12 Sept.12 Oct.12 Nov.12 Dec.12 Jan.13 Feb.13 Mar.13

10.2 4.5 8.3 56.9 20.6 24.2 14.6 10.3 7.61 7.9 7.04 3.8

April.13 May.13 Jun.13 Jul.13 Aug.13 Sept.13 Oct.13 Nov.13 Dec.13 Jan.14 Feb.14 Mar.14

5.9 3.9 7.4 22.1 8.8 41.4 14.4 16.3 3 17.6 31.6 20.8

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Let us Compost

DefinitionExamining some of the models

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Definitions

Composting is the managed process of decomposing organic wastes into stable plant manure.

Composting can be done Aerobically (in the presence of oxygen) OR Anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen)

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Compost Use

Compost is used in agriculture,

horticulture, home gardening, land reclamation,

wetland mitigation, and erosion prevention to help

rebuild soil organic matter and to provide a good

medium for plant growth. Contains NKP and trace

elements not found in artificial fertilizers.

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Composting Models1. Hachigame Composting : This method has

potential for St. Lucia considering the centralized generation and consistent volumes of waste material. The compost product has a ready market given the emergent change in vegetable farming.

2. Takakura Method: The beneficial and intentional use of certain bacteria to create a fertilizer compost that is a identical alternative to chemical fertilizer. The method is demonstrable using simple household kitchen material .

Composting Models

3. Livestock Compost: A method with tremendous implementation potential for St. Lucia as another viable option. This experience showed that with proper management a high quality compost can be made using animal manure and green waste.

4. Community: The sustainable operation of community-based system of farming that supports the socio-economic status of the people in that community. Good but limited scope for St. Lucia.

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Action Plan to Put In Place1. Determine annual biodegradable waste volumes and their

origins at disposal facilities.2. Meet and discuss plan with NGO’s and CBO’s, government

departments, potential interests, parliamentary representative, etc.

3. Survey sample population of residents of large biodegradable waste volume generation origin to evaluate their awareness of composting and initial acceptance level of composting.

4. Identify the major direct stakeholders – farmers, industry and hoteliers – and define the various biodegradable waste streams and the individual quantities.

5. Community Sensitization/EE6. Decide on priority area(s) and determine resource needs to

commission operation7. Select pilot area and commence

SWOT Analysis STRENGTHS

1. Waste volumes to do sustainable composting is available

2. Ready markets3. Longevity of disposal facilities4. Generation of employment 5. Healthy populations

WEAKNESSES1. Acceptance of the compost

technologies 2. Inter-agency capacity building and

mobilization lacking3. Lack of explorative resources; experts,

research, new technologies, etc

OPPORTUNITIES1. Site specific type composting

technologies can be implemented2. Collaborative corridor for

organizations; NGO’s, CBO’s, etc 3. Alternative energy source 4. Reduced farming costs5. Rehabilitation of ecosystems

THREATS1. The absence of the political will2. Land ownership and land use policy

prohibition 3. Support framework to ensure

sustainability 4. Tradition 5. Quick money!

Socio-Economic Impacts

The nutrient rich soil enhancer, saves the expense of purchasing many manufactured products

Lower cost of production resulting in better economic return to farmers

Reduced fiscal costs of waste collection services through reduced waste generation

Better health for breadwinners and workers results in increased productivity nationally

It Can Be Done!!!!!

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Thank You For Being Attention

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