Ambergris Caye Belize Resort Development - Department of ...

Construction waste will include (i) construction rubble [concrete and wood material], (ii)
plastics, (iii) paper [primarily from cement waste bags], (iv) scrap metal, and; (v), small
quantities of glass. Food waste during the construction period will be negligible.
7.4 Waste Category I – Construction and Field Waste
(i) Construction Waste – At ABR almost all the waste produced during this phase
will come from construction of the resort’s infrastructure. The resort intends to construct
88 condo units and 56 villas of different size ranges, besides a 105, room hotel, spas, and
ancillary and auxiliary facilities such as an Ecological and Cultural Center. Buildings will
be built out of organic natural materials such as timber, however foundations will
particular will require large volumes of concrete since they will also house the water
cisterns for the houses.
It is commonly assumed in building construction that between 5-10% of all building
materials will eventually be discarded as waste and purchasers will normally allow for
this. Beside the usual scraps and discards common to construction sites generally, the
development must also get rid of wrappings and packing, which will be considerable
given the amount of building materials and furnishing which will be imported.
Construction waste will include pieces of concrete, wood ends, nails and other ferrous
products, casing materials, piping and wires among others. An average of 5-10m 3 of
compact waste materials will be produced on average from each of the villa structures
and probably the same from the structures giving an estimated total volume of between
375 – 750m3 of discarded construction waste, which will be produced over the life of the
project. The hotels and remaining facilities including the piers will probably produce
another 100 -125m3 of waste.
Once the owners of the residential stock takes charge of their buildings further
construction, alteration or additions may take place as allowed under the Code of
Covenants signed between the developer and his clients. This may include structures such
as store sheds laundry areas and staff quarters.
All inorganic construction waste produced at the site such as plasterboard, mortar, tiles
will be retired to the lower areas on the rear of the property as landfill. Wood pieces will
be recycled as will other materials that can find additional application around the site.
Organic materials such as wood that cannot be recycled further will be collected and
burned in open air fires or given to the communities as firewood.
(ii) Field Waste - The little field waste produced will be from clearing of certain trees
to erect structures but as noted in Chapter 2 it is the intention of the developer to retain as
much of the native vegetation as possible. Notwithstanding this the shear size of the
island and number of buildings to be erected will have a considerable footprint.
Calculations of the footprint of the villas and condos alone suggest that they will take up
approx. 11 acres. The plants from these areas will have to be removed not to mention
additional clearing for site enhancement (e.g. small gardens), ventilation and to allow
7-4