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22 A B S T R A C T S were limited financial and human resources allocated to develop solutions. Consequently, there was no technological remedy in place to adequately deal with the final waste disposal and to manage the waste volumes, and there was no framework in place to regularize, institutionalize and legalize the management of health care waste. However, within the past 3-4 years Guyana is undergoing a significant positive change. Workers from both the private and public health facilities in both the rural, hinterland and urban districts were trained in the management of sharps and sharp boxes were provided; several small scale DeMontforte type incinerators to burn sharps were constructed in rural health facilities; a Health Facility Licensing Bill was enacted in 2008 that mandates health institutions to better manage health care waste, and within the context of this Act, medical waste regulations and guidelines that outline in detail the requirements of the various components of the waste management process, from waste generation to disposal, are near completion. The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, with financial assistance from the World Bank, has procured a hydroclave, a compactor and a specially designed truck to transport medical waste. This service will be available to all the private health facilities within Georgetown at a cost. The construction of a modern landfill, to be operational by the end of 2010 will have a specially designed compartment to store medical and other hazardous waste. It is clear that medical waste management in Guyana is now being given the focus, priority and commitment that was previously lacking. Sustainable Waste Management within the British Virgin Islands by Charlotte McDevitt This paper develops recommendations for reducing waste and increasing resource management in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). It is based on a phenomenological approach using a systems perspective. Grounded theory is used to analyse qualitative and quantitative data. Data collection techniques include participant observation, literature reviews, interviews and a waste reduction questionnaire. This research study concludes that Integrated Waste Management (IWM) is a potentially flawed approach to apply to the setting of the British Virgin Islands mainly as IWM relies on the continued use of landfill practices. Finding suitable landfill space in Tortola, the main island of the BVI, is challenging due to the island being only 153 square kilometers of mostly hilly terrain. Waste reduction methods that focus solely on recycling pose many challenges particularly when applied to the island setting of the BVI. Thus a broader scope of waste reduction and resource management strategies is required to ensure safe and effective waste management in the future. The research study recommends that the BVI adopt a systemic approach to waste management with the ultimate aim of eliminating the need for incineration and landfill. A waste reduction and resource management strategy is outlined, in addition to possible tools that move beyond conventional recycling to include extended producer responsibility and green procurement. Hazardous Waste Round Table Discussion by Ed Nesselbeck This session consists of a round table discussion on the current state of hazardous waste generation and management in the region. Two recent Hazardous Waste Surveys conducted by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) will be highlighted and referred to, although they will not be the prime focus of this discussion. They will provide insight to the situation as identified in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana and offer guidance to further discussion on hazardous waste in other countries. Solid and hazardous waste managers are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions. Roles & Functions of the National Solid Waste Management Authority in Jamaica by Garfield Murray The management of solid waste in Jamaica is the responsibility of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) a local government agency incorporated in April 2001 through the enactment of the National Solid Waste Management Act of 2001. This NSWMA Act empowers the NSWMA to regulate the processing and disposal of municipal solid waste and the recycling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste islandwide. The Act also gives the Authority the power to implement various regulations. The NSWMA executes its operation through four regional offices island wide registered as Limited Liability Companies. Each regional office is responsible for the management of solid waste within its respective wasteshed. This includes public cleansing operations such as street sweeping, roadside pickup and residential solid waste collection and disposal. Other activities such as commercial waste collection, special waste disposal, cleaning and maintenance of verge and median strips along major thoroughfares as well as the maintenance of public parks is also undertaken by these regional entities. Through its regional entities the NSWMA regulates the operations and management of 8 disposals sites island-wide. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated across the island each year. Of this total an average of 75% is disposed of at the disposal sites within the four wastesheds. The remaining portion is either recycled, reused or ends up somewhere in the environment, predominantly our waterways and shoreline. The NSWMA, in order to curb and eradicate the illegal disposal of solid waste has embarked on an island wide campaign, educating the public on how to properly manage and dispose of their waste. It is our intention that at the end of this campaign that the attitude and practices of the populace would have changed and that the NSWMA will have a greater impact in contributing to preservation of public health, environmental aesthetics and beauty of Jamaica. PLAS-CRETE: Manufacture of Construction Blocks with shredded PET and HDPE by Karen Alleyne This project is based on the development, testing and evaluation of lightweight aggregate cementitious products utilizing shredded Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) from crushed drink bottles and crates. The innovation for this project is twofold. Firstly, thousands of PET and HDPE plastic materials, particularly plastic bottles, are improperly disposed of each day resulting in large volumes of plastic waste entering and remaining in the natural environment. This has become a solid waste management challenge in Guyana since it is estimated that hundreds of tonnes of PET plastic FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION
ottles are discarded yearly in Georgetown alone. Secondly, efficient means of re-using waste plastic, particularly PET and HDPE must be found since in developing countries it may not be economically viable to recycle, based on the volumes of plastic produced. To solve this problem, efficient means of recycling and/or re-using waste plastic, particularly PET and HDPE must be found. In more developed societies, recycling technology has been the solution of choice but in developing countries, like Guyana and other Caricom Countries, it may not be economically viable based on the relatively small volumes of plastic produced. Hence we need to determine innovative ways to re-use plastic since, presently it is not viable to recycle. It is for this reason the author embarked on using shredded PET and HDPE as aggregates in construction material. With the alteration of mix ratios, compressive strengths ranging from 1000 psi to 3781psi were obtained for the blocks having been moist cured for 7, 14 and 28 days. These values indicated that the blocks can be used for moderate strength (1000-1200 psi) and structural light weight concrete (>2500 psi) applications such as floors in high–rise buildings (to reduce support load requirements), and as thermal and sound insulation in walls and roof panels (Kosmatka/PCA). With the alteration of mix ratios and the use of a combination of different plastic types and sizes according to a prescribed method, higher compressive strengths can be obtained. Integration of Energy from Waste (EFW) in the Caribbean by Magnus Rundqwist and Peter Chromec The maximum environmental benefits from a new Energy from Waste (EFW) facility may require locating the new plant close to both the source of the waste and the potential energy customers. This paper will present design features that allow them to be located directly into a Caribbean environment while minimizing their impact on the community and often improving the quality of life of the surrounding communities. Some of the additional benefits gained by locating an EFW facility on location in the Caribbean are: • Minimizing the cost and the environmental impact of transporting the waste over distances by treating the waste where it is produced. This contributes to a reduction in number of trucks on the roads, a reduction in emissions from these trucks, a reduction in green house gas emissions with reduced transport fuel requirements, a reduction in the potential for odors and spills with shorter transport distances. • Providing electrical generation at the point of consumption. • Possible revenue from disposal fees from cruise ships. • Producing shore protection /concrete blocks ash handling. • Reducing the dependence on imported oil for electrical generation and for heating / cooling. • Providing secure and well paying jobs for member of the community. • Reducing the carbon foot print of the community as an EFW plant is considered a carbon sink and municipal waste is often classified as renewable energy. An EFW plant typically leads to higher recycling rate, both pre and post combustion. Some of the specific measures that have been considered for a Caribbean EFW plant environment are architectural enhancements, more stringent noise and odor control, significant reduction or even elimination of visible plumes. An applicable case study included in this paper will be the Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility, Bermuda. Waste-to-Energy is Coming to the United States Virgin Islands by May Cornwall After several attempted procurements over 20 years, the U.S. Virgin Islands has signed contracts for the development of two refusederived fuel waste-to-energy projects. This presentation will address the various challenges faced by island communities, and the U.S. Virgin Islands in particular, in developing waste-to-energy projects as its long-term solid waste management solution. It will explore how two governmental agencies, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority worked hand-in-hand to overcome such challenges and make the projects a reality. Many facets of these projects are quite different from the vast majority of the waste-to-energy plants previously developed in the United States. These areas include the procurement process, the chosen developer, the fuel supply arrangement, the financing, the contract structure and the risk allocation between the parties. These and other unique features will be described as well as the reasons for them and how and why the VI government has become comfortable with and embraced such features. Finally, the presentation will examine why the development of these projects to the current stage has succeeded while so many previous attempts have failed, with the hope that municipalities and developers interested in developing new waste-to-energy projects can walk away with valuable lessons learned. New Geosynthetic Materials Enhance Sustainability – From Solar and Synthetic-Turf Landfill Caps to Fresh Water Conservation by Michael Dorsch This presentation will highlight the use of new geosynthetics and PV materials in several innovative liquid and waste containment applications that enhance sustainability. The Tessman Road Landfill Solar Energy Cover System which utilizes flexible photo-voltaic (solar) panels on an exposed-membrane landfill cap to generate electricity on what would normally be unutilized land will be discussed. The author will also highlight a project in Abu Dhabi for which a desalinization-derived fresh-water reservoir system was designed and built to include an evaporation cover to conserve the valuable resource as well as a synthetic-turf landfill closure system that reduces installation and maintenance costs, increases available landfill air-space and improves the quality of storm water discharge. 23 A B S T R A C T S FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION
Page 1 and 2: FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMEN
Page 3 and 4: Contents Background Messages • Me
Page 5 and 6: 5 Message from Hon. Dr. Horace Chan
Page 7 and 8: 7 Message from Patricia Aquing Exec
Page 9 and 10: United States Centers for Disease C
Page 11 and 12: 11 CARICOM Energy Programme Joint M
Page 13 and 14: List of Organizers and Sponsors Col
Page 15 and 16: Monday, June 21 st 10:00 - 16:00 Ar
Page 17 and 18: Quality (Falmouth Room) Parallel Se
Page 19 and 20: 12.00 - 12.30 Randy Brown: ReCaribe
Page 21: Abstracts of Technical Presentation
Page 25 and 26: Selikor has implemented this manage
Page 27 and 28: the importance of the vision of IWC
Page 29 and 30: concerns of global warming. Alterna
Page 31 and 32: Caribbean’s sustainability proble
Page 33 and 34: Parallel Session 5 - Water Resource
Page 35 and 36: ance at the macro (government) and
Page 37 and 38: The aim of this paper was to assess
Page 39 and 40: ventilation, temperature, etc inher
Page 41 and 42: Parallel Session 7- Climate Change
Page 43 and 44: Are our laws and institutions ready
Page 45 and 46: is the role that Communication for
Page 47 and 48: Map of Conference & Exhibition Area

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