NPEP celebrates five years
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The New Providence Ecology Park is considering introducing and developing landfill-gas-to-energy infrastructure to capture methane and convert it into sustainable power. This move comes as the park celebrates the success of its five-year landfill management plan, which has eliminated uncontrolled fires and significantly reduced its carbon footprint.
In 2019, the New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) undertook a massive project to remediate the landfill site, commonly known as "the dump," by implementing sustainable solutions to address the issue of increasing waste.
NPEP says it marks its fifth anniversary with a comprehensive list of accomplishments in waste management and ecological restoration in The Bahamas.
A statement read: "Under NPEP's leadership, over 100,000 loads of construction and demolition waste have been recycled, along with the processing of more than 1.2 million tires using shredding and baling techniques. These efforts have not only mitigated environmental hazards but also fostered a culture of sustainability among Bahamian citizens."
"When NPEP took over the site, we inherited a significant environmental challenge," states NPEP Chairman, Felix Stubbs. "The area was previously a hazardous landscape, posing risks to both the environment and public health. Today, we have a functional facility that manages waste safely and sustainably. We are proud to say that the landfill is no longer a dumping ground. We're changing the narrative surrounding waste management, and we're doing so comprehensively."
NPEP has trained its more than 75 Bahamian team members in solid waste and hazardous material management.
A key achievement for NPEP has been the elimination of uncontrolled fires, a persistent issue identified as an "urgent public health hazard" by the Pan American Health Organization in 2017. Through consolidation, closure, and covering of over 80 acres of open waste, NPEP reports zero uncontrolled fire incidents since 2019.
Furthermore, NPEP's initiatives have significantly reduced the landfill's carbon footprint. Over 50,000 cubic yards of compost have been created and redeployed as a vegetative layer at the landfill, while 400,000 cubic yards of organic waste have been diverted. An engineered landfill gas system captures methane, a potent greenhouse gas, drastically reducing the site's carbon footprint.
"As a small island developing state, it's crucial to consider the environmental impact of our actions," Stubbs emphasizes. "Minimizing our carbon footprint was one of our primary goals over the past five years."
In addition to tangible improvements such as well-defined roads, organized compost windrows, and structured residential drop-off zones, NPEP has introduced innovative recycling programs. Over 750,000 customers have utilized the drop-off facility, contributing to waste sorting and recycling efforts. Notably, in 2023, the facility processed over 100 tons of glass through a pioneering recycling program, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing health hazards.
Looking ahead, NPEP aims to enhance methane gas capture and treatment systems, with the goal of reducing the Bahamas' carbon output by an estimated 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Plans include the development of landfill-gas-to-energy infrastructure to convert captured methane into sustainable power. Reclaimed land from NPEP's remediation efforts will support future sustainability infrastructure projects.
"We view our fifth anniversary as a stepping stone toward greater environmental achievements," Stubbs concluded. "Together, we're setting a new standard for waste management and ecological preservation."
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