Pt. 2 - How storms change our policies - Waste Management

Barbados’ Waste Management – Priorities and Policies

Barbados faces the challenges of a dense population, the tourism industry and waste generation and management. Illegal dumping, litter and inland waste management are priorities in Barbados, an island of only 166 square miles.

Following Hurricane Matthew, plastic and Styrofoam waste ended up on the beach. Although the local conservation governmental authority cleaned up this waste, the initial visibility of this waste creates an opportunity to show the urgency of waste management.

There has been public commentary in the printed press, noting that the rate of garbage collection has slowed down. The government has responded stating that a lack of trucks is the main reason for this slowing down rather than the increase in waste.

Although a recent national cleanup occurred in September and there are numerous organizations engaged in cleanups throughout the year, the issue of waste management goes beyond waste cleanup to waste reduction. The lack of systematic recycling further compounds the challenges of Barbadian waste management.

Waste Management Solutions – Tax, Recycling and Privatization

In Barbados, there was public opposition to the creation of a waste-to-energy plasma gasification project. That project was abandoned before it reached the environmental impact assessment planning stage in 2016.

Earlier this year, Barbados leaders repealed a solid waste tax due to public opposition. But on September 1, Barbados implemented a 2% National Social Responsibility Levy on imported goods in order to raise its GDP to $50 million U.S. dollars.

The government also proposed the creation of a recycling industrial facility. This facility has become a political issue due to public opposition to the environmental impact of existing private recycling operations, following a tire fire in 2013.

A week after Tropical Storm Matthew made landfall in Barbados, the Prime Minister announced final authorization of the recycling industrial facility for use by private recyclers. Additionally, private waste collection companies were hired by the government to supplement governmental waste collection. However, concerns have already been raised by the a local workers’ union about this decision.

Although public concerns have been raised about the economics of privatizing waste management collection and the solutions put forward, the issue of waste management still remains a bipartisan issue in Barbados. Neither political party has used their platform to define which waste management solutions are most effective financially and environmentally efficient.

Hurricane Matthew Pinpoints Need for Sustainable Waste Management Policies

Sustainable waste management solutions are essential because Barbados’ economy depends on tourism and the use of a National Social Responsibility Levy for healthcare funding.

Hurricane Matthew revealed the urgency of creating a policy for both emergency waste collection and sustainable waste management policies as informed by transparent public engagement. In Barbados, the public’s opposition to previous waste management solutions indicates that although policy solutions can occur after a hurricane focusing event, the sustainability and success of these solutions depends on both an engaged and informed public.

A sustainable policy solution which would continually foster public engagement would establish tax incentives for businesses and householders who have documented a reduction in their waste as a result of composting, recycling and use of recyclable products. This way, the waste management load is decreased at the source therefore also reducing the government’s financial waste burden.

Pt. 3 – Water Management Priorities and Policies