Even before the Department of Public Works bids good riddance to its archaic landfills in favor of a modern waste-handling facility, it will discard most of the unsightly garbage bins now used throughout the territory to collect residents’ trash.
But as the government waves goodbye with one hand, it will have the other out collecting something other than trash — cash. As Public Works eliminates the use of roll-on-roll-off bins at set collection points as its main way of picking up garbage, it — or a contractor — will begin a house-to-house program that residents will have to pay for.
"It’s the 21st century and garbage isn’t free anymore," said Sonya Nelthropp, technical assistant to the commissioner of Public Works on waste management.
In its efforts to solve the territory’s trash problems, Public Works has circulated a request for proposals on a state-of-the-art solid-waste management facility. Nelthropp said the department has received nine proposals and after forming a bid committee will begin the evaluation process in August.
The proposals cover everything from garbage pickup to final processing. But paying for a system that could cost somewhere between $70 million and $100 million means the territory will have to start doing what every other jurisdiction in the United States does: charge tipping fees for garbage disposal.
Various government studies have placed a tipping fee at $40 to $50 a ton. How that translates for individual residents remains to be worked out. But one thing is sure, there will no longer be free rides to the dump.
Hand in hand with a new solid-waste management facility is a proposed Waste Management Authority. Its aim will be to better manage sewage and solid waste, primarily by collecting fees to run those problem-plagued systems.
Public Works has submitted draft legislation to create the authority to Government House, which is expected to send the proposal to the Legislature for approval by the end of summer.
At that point, either Public Works or a waste authority will be in charge of, among other things, collecting fees for house-to-house trash removal. "Public Works or the authority will be responsible for that function whether they do it themselves or hire a private hauler," Nelthropp said. "Customers will pay whether it’s a residential fee or paying the contractor."
Roan Creque, director of operations at Public Works, said a test program for house-to-house collection has been under way for some time on St. Croix, culminating recently in the distribution of 64-gallon garbage cans to residents of Mon Bijou.
Under the new system, as many of the roll-on-roll-off bins as possible will be eliminated. Those areas that cannot be served by house-to-house pickup will still use bins, which, however, will be placed in areas that are fenced, staffed and, above all, not free.
Creque said he hopes to see the program in full operation by Oct. 1.
"Once the authority is in place it will happen immediately," he said. "St. Croix is ideal for house-to-house. On St. Thomas, there are some areas where it’s not going to work. We’ll do facilities near those areas so people can dispose of their trash. But stuff won’t be there for days on end."
Nelthropp, meanwhile, noted that house-to-house collection will allow for better management of waste by separating residential and commercial customers. It will also make people more aware of how much trash they are producing, she said, especially if garbage is picked up just once a week.
And that, the government hopes, will reduce the amount of garbage going into a new solid-waste facility.
"Volume," said Nelthropp, "is the real critical issue."
