A Source reader from St. John wants to know why tires are piling up at the Susannaberg Transfer Station, why the trash isn’t being transported to St. Thomas and what’s up with the new tipping floor construction project.
V.I. Waste Management Authority spokeswoman Stella Saunders had answers for all the questions.
Tires are not accepted at any V.I. Waste Management solid waste facilities, but Saunders said the tires currently at Susannaberg were illegally dumped throughout St. John over the past few years. They were moved to Susannaberg during islandwide cleanups.
According to Saunders, when the scrap metal was being removed last year, the tires were separated from the scrap metal and piled separately.
“Unfortunately the authority does not have the funds to transport and properly dispose of the tires from the transfer station,” Saunders said.
She said scrap metal was removed from the transfer station a year ago. The scrap metal contractor alternates between the three islands and is expected back on St. John within the next two months to pick up scrap metal that accumulated since the last visit.
She said work had been suspended on the tipping floor due to contractual issues but resumed this week. Saunders said Waste Management expects work on the tipping floor will be completed within the next 60 days.
The ramp renovation was completed and new compactors have been ordered. They should arrive when the tipping floor is completed, Saunders said.
Saunders said bins of garbage are transported daily to the Bovoni landfill on St. Thomas via the barge, and that when the tipping floor and compactors are in place, waste will be compacted and this will result in fewer trips on the barge for the garbage trucks.
Green waste and construction and demolition waste are transported weekly. Saunders said items disposed of at the household hazardous waste facility at Susannaberg such as used motor oil and electronic devices are also removed regularly.
