Mile 27 landfill site is best, says official

One of the more controversial issues dominating the nation’s environmental debate is the recommendation for a comprehensive programme to manage Belize’s solid waste–better known as garbage. Environmental officer Martin Alegria commented on a proposal to site a central sanitary landfill at mile twenty-seven on the Western Highway.

Martin Alegria

“Based on the technical input that that company did, data gathering and soil analysis, and management economics in terms of transportation costs, from San Pedro down to Benque, that was the best suitable site. Not only economics, but also environmental in the sense that that area is high and not prone to flooding as other areas would. Once you hit mile twenty-four coming to Belize, that area also good clay content for prevention of seepage into the aquifer, and it’s half way between Belize City and San Ignacio.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“The people at the Belize Zoo are saying that it will destroy the habitat for birds and that it will affect a lot of other animals. What’s your take?”

Martin Alegria

“The information gathered and put into the EIA, was about a year and a half ago sent back for reediting, and adding additional information to be included. That revised EIA that came to us December last year, did satisfy all these issues of concern that the Belize Zoo, the Sibun Watershed Association and many other community activists had regarding that specific site. Whereby mitigating measures are now included to prevent or avoid altogether, these types of incidences from occurring.”

The study, which recommended the mile twenty-seven site, was carried out by a Canadian environmental consulting firm. Funds for the study were provided by the government of Japan, administered through the Interamerican Development Bank. The implementation of the solid waste management plan will be financed by a tax on plastic packaging expected to be enacted into law shortly.