The re-engineering of the New Providence Landfill will include a baler facility, air quality monitoring, and a fire station among other features, said Minister of the Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett yesterday.
Speaking to rumors that consideration was being given to moving the landfill to a site on Spikenard Road, Dorsett said, "There is no landfill or site being created there."
He explained that the Spikenard site was used in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew for all green waste to be deposited, and due to the recent fire at the landfill, it has continued to be used for green waste and construction demolition waste.
He said once the fire is out and the landfill fully reopens for business, the waste will be redirected to the landfill.
Dorsett outlined the government's plan to re-engineer the landfill.
"There will be a gas extraction technology that will be utilized for the areas where waste was tipped previously, as well as temperature technologies to make sure that we understand what's happening underneath.
"We hope to have a membrane landfill liner that will generate solar energy, not only for the landfill, but possibly for the surrounding communities of Jubilee and Victoria.
"In addition to that, we will be constructing a new properly engineered and lined cell.
"We are calling for covered materials recycling facilities on the site.
"A baler facility so that incoming waste streams can be placed at the proper containers.
"A recycling facility is being constructed which will divert anywhere from about 65 to 75 percent of the waste streams coming into the landfill.
"It will call for a new fire station being built, additional wells, a water feature which is going to create a tremendous buffer, a water buffer between the landfill and Victoria and Jubilee Gardens.
"A construction and demolition waste facility will be there, as well as a separate tire shredding and green waste mulching facility.
"The hazardous waste facility will also be revamped as a part of that exercise.
"And an air quality monitoring system will also be a part of that feature.
"So we will always know exactly what is happening, particularly with respect to the air quality.
"And we are also addressing the issue of remediation, which will hopefully address the ground water issues as well."
Dorsett said the full plan for the future operations of the New Providence Landfill will meet international standards.
"The road map is already in place and that is being now factored into the request for proposal which we hope to be able to advance next week," he said.
The discussion on the need to remediate the city dump follows the fire that took place on March 5, threatening the lives and properties of nearby residents.
Residents have yet to be given the all-clear to return to their homes -- although many of them have -- and officials are still unable to say whether the quality of air in Jubilee Gardens is safe.
After almost four weeks of burning, the fire is expected to be fully put out by the weekend, Dorsett added.
"There are just some smaller pockets around the edges, that once the team completes the ridge, they are going to put out," he said.
"All things considered, if machines continue to run and we don't have any of them breaking down, if water continues to be applied together with some of the FireIce product that we are using on the ground, and if we continue to get fill in the volumes we have been getting from the Sandy Bottom project, by this weekend we should be good to go.
"Essentially the fire is out. It's just areas that are still smouldering and those areas have to be covered.
"I am hopeful that by the weekend it will be completely out. That is what my technical team is telling me, that by the weekend we will be good to go."

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