The Case for a Material Recovery Facility
Last year the World Atlas named Trinidad and Tobago the number one generator of waste per capita, producing 14.4 kilograms per capita per day. More than 1548 tonnes per day goes to the Beetham landfill, which has been in use since the 1960s1. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company Ltd (SWMCOL), the landfill will reach capacity within the next few years (Swmcol.co.tt, 2016).
There are a number of benefits, not only economical but social and environmental as well, to introducing a material recovery facility (MRF) as a viable alternative that can manage the waste produced from an increasing urban population.
A Material Recovery Facility, or MRF, is a facility in which waste, either presorted or mixed, is brought in, sorted, separated and processed. This processed waste can then be sold in batches for recycling or remanufacturing, effectively reducing the waste sent to landfill.
Due to the poor management and overcapacity faced at the Beetham landfill, there are numerous toxins that are released into the air and the ground. Landfill gas emissions are made up of mainly greenhouse gases (GHGs), the majority of which consists of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane gas, with a varying percentage of other toxic gases, such as sulphur and ammonia, depending on the composition of the decomposing matter (EPA.gov, 2016).
As the Beetham was never intended to be a landfill, there is also the problem of leachate, as water filters through the decomposing waste, seeping into the ground and into the water table, polluting the land, water systems, and delicate ecosystems of the swamps and mangroves nearby. There have also been countless fires at the landfill over the years resulting in toxic gases being released causing the total shut down of the capital city, with forced closures of schools, offices and motorways. This toxic smog also results in serious health problems for the population, including severe increases in respiratory problems.
The implementation of an MRF at the Beetham landfill site would reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other toxic gases, as well as gain additional value from the more than 1500 tonnes of waste collected and brought to the site each day. The process should result in a 70-85% reduction in waste going to landfill.
According to the National Waste Recycling Policy, the characterisation of the waste can be broken down into 32% Organic Material, 21.4% Paper, 16% Plastic, 8.7% Glass,
8.2% Textiles, 2.8% Metals, 0.8% Beverage Containers and 1.8% other. This shows that the vast majority of the waste can be recycled, redistributed and/or resold, resulting in many significant impacts such as the reduction of harmful greenhouse gases and land pollution, a profitable business opportunity for the government and job creation for the population.
As of 2012, the Trinidad and Tobago government spends ~$49M USD ($321M TTD) per annum to collect and dispose of the country’s waste into the landfills around the country2.
Assuming mid range values, 1500 tonnes/day delivered into the facility, and waste characteristics as clarified by the National Waste Policy 2015, annual revenue earned from the sale of sorted recyclables is estimated at $27M USD, solidifying the economic reasons for such a facility.
The implementation of a MRF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impact of the toxins released on the population and ecosystem, not only helping Trinidad and Tobago meet their Sustainable Development Goals, but will also provide a cleaner and healthier environment for the surrounding populations.
This type of facility can also provide several and wide ranging job opportunities to a population facing economic recession, as a facility of this nature would need a range of skilled and semi-skilled labour to maintain operation. It can also result in profitable business opportunities out of something that is currently a huge sunk cost to the government, seeing as for this type of facility to be most efficient, an island wide recycling programme would be necessary, with a successful partnership between government, business and community.
To build and equip the MRF will cost approximately $13.56M USD with an operating budget of about $7M USD annually (Resource Recycling Systems, 2012). If the purpose of the MRF is to sort and the materials, the revenue from the recycled materials are estimated as follows:
- Plastics: $$150-200 USD/tonne,
- Paper: $70-250 USD/tonne,
- Glass: $15-35 USD/tonne,
- Metals-Steel: $20-40 USD/tonne,
- Metal-Aluminium: $800-970 USD/tonne,
- Textiles: $200-650 USD/tonne
(letsrecycle.com , 2016)
Saarah Khan is a graduate of Cranfield University, United Kingdom. (MSc Management & Corporate Sustainability), and a member of the Chartered Management Institute, United Kingdom (CMI Level 7 Dip Strategic Management and Leadership (QCF).
You can email Saarah to work with corporate in-house sustainability teams at: saarah.khan812@gmail.com