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The nagging fires at the landfill in Wheeland, Providenciales, are expected to be a thing of the past when a new local company which was awarded a $2.9million contract, takes over management of the site.

During a press conference on Thursday, January 18th, 2024, Minister of Health and Human Services, with responsibility for Solid Waste, Shaun Malcolm revealed that the three-year contract has been awarded and fully executed as of January 5th 2024 to TCI Green Ecological Corporation Ltd, to manage the waste disposal site on the island of Providenciales.

TCI Green Ecological Corporation (TCI-Green) is owned by brothers, Richard Gibbs and Delroy Gibbs of Turks and Caicos Islands.

Asked by The SUN, does this means an end to the fires at the landfill, Richard Gibbs assured that once their company takes over, the fires will stop.

“Our company has already strategized the proper way of managing the fires on the landfill. We will be providing that information to the Environmental Department, but I can assure you that once our company TCI Green Ecological Corporation takes over the landfill, the fires will stop. That’s not going to be a concern for the community and especially for the people of the Wheeland community,” he said.

Meantime, Malcolm stated that at the end of their three-year contract, government will be in a position to offer more contracts in the foreseeable future.

Asked what happens after the three years, Malcolm said, “We have moved on to the Interim report of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and based on the emergency issues that is going on down at the land site…but we will shortly be receiving a comprehensive report that will not only address the landfill situation in Providenciales, but the whole Turks and Caicos Islands. At the end of the three years, we will be in a position to offer more…contracts that will go into the foreseeable future.”

He continued: “We know that the issues at the land site are nothing that just started two years ago when we arrived in government. It has been a sore issue that was not addressed for a long time. We came into office and we zeroed in right away on fixing this issue, starting from our first minister of Health Honorable E. Jay Saunders and of course the Honorable Jamell Robinson took it another long stretch and I guess I am the end game. It is a big issue and we promise that we will do something about it.”

Malcolm further stated that his government is well advanced in fixing what they promised and said that they would do at the Providenciales land site. Over the years, the Providenciales Landfill site has become a focal point for various issues, ranging from unsightliness and odors, and to more concerning problems like fires, smoke from past fires, increased vectors, human scavenging, and associated crimes.

He added: “The current state of the landfill reflects a mix of waste types that demands our immediate attention and careful management. From mixed waste to green waste, sewage, dead animals, inert waste, derelict vehicles and boats, electronic waste, medical and pharmaceutical waste, scrap metals and tires – each category requires proper handling to mitigate the impact on our environment and the well-being of our residents and visitors.”

Previously, Malcolm said, the government entrusted a private company with the operations and management of the Providenciales Landfill. This contract came to an end in 2018. Since the conclusion of the contract, the Environmental Health Department along with the Ministry of Health, have been working tirelessly to ensure sustainable management of the site was in place.

“To ensure that works were being carried out on the Landfill, the management of the waste disposal site on the island of Providenciales was executed through short-term contracts, this was not only unsustainable, but presented many health and safety challenges such as fires and an increase of scavenging,” he added.

“In response to these challenges, the Public and Environmental Health Department, through lessons learnt from the previous contract, developed an ITT for tendering, this document took into consideration the strategies needed to enhance the aesthetics of the site, and also protect the public health of the population, particularly those who reside close to the Landfill site.”

According to Malcolm, as of April 2019, the department estimated a daily solid waste production of approximately three hundred and thirty-five (335) tons per day. However, the site, covering approximately sixty-six (66) acres, has the potential for expansion to accommodate the growing waste management needs of our community.

“To further enhance the Providenciales Landfill, the Environmental Health Department through the Ministry of Health and Human Services in its efforts to improve the Providenciales Landfill site, we are pleased to announce that the Perimeter fencing works are ongoing to secure the premises of the landfill site, this work is key in terms of preventing scavengers for entering the site. The access road around perimeter of the landfill has been completed, in the event access is needed from a different location, we now have that ability,” Malcolm added.

Additionally, a new weighbridge has purchased and should be fully be installed during the month of February 2024. This will assist the department in recording data in terms of the amount of waste being collected on the site which will be used to develop future policies.

“I am also pleased to advise that the Environmental Health Department currently have in stock, indoor air quality monitors which are being used to tests offices or homes once a request is made to the Department. In addition to the in-door air quality monitors, we have procured out-door air quality monitors, these are essential for the Providenciales Landfill in Providenciales, the outdoor monitors are expected to be in country by the end of February,” he said.