Landfill Out – By Kisean Joseph
Landfill Out Served Its
Antigua and Barbuda’s only landfill has exceeded its operational lifespan, and the government is racing to find an affordable green alternative before the waste crisis deepens further.
Junior Minister within the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service, Senator Michael Joseph, made the disclosure during an interview with Observer Radio, revealing that the Cook’s Landfill — in operation since approximately 2001 — has long outlived its intended service life.
“The landfill has out-served its life,” Senator Joseph said. “It’s been in operation since, I think, 2001, and so it’s exhausted its lifespan.”
The Junior Minister painted a stark picture of the volume of waste the facility handles daily, warning that the scale of the problem is far greater than most residents may appreciate.
“On average, on a daily basis, the landfill receives about 450 to 500 tons of garbage from the citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda,” he said. “Just to put that in perspective, we’re talking about 20 40-foot containers filled with garbage that makes its way to the landfill every day.”
Senator Joseph acknowledged that waste management has become a global challenge, noting that countries worldwide are struggling to keep pace with rising waste production. However, for Antigua and Barbuda, the search for greener solutions has hit a significant financial wall.
The government has been exploring waste-to-energy technology as a potential path forward, but every proposal received so far has carried a steep price tag — one that would ultimately be passed on to consumers.
“All the proposals that have been provided to us estimate that the cost for producing energy is higher than what we’re paying for through APUA,” Senator Joseph explained. “If we were to go that route, it would be greener, but it would cost homeowners, on average, about 20 to 25 percent more on their utility bills.”
Despite the setback, the Junior Minister said the government has not abandoned the pursuit of a viable green solution. He disclosed that negotiations are currently ongoing with a prospective partner, with the government pushing for a deal that does not increase the financial burden on households.
“We’ve gone through a number of proposals. We have one currently. We’re in negotiations now. We’re hoping that we’ll be able to get that back where we meet the current expenditure that households are now facing,” he said. “And if we can, then that’s what we’re going to be moving towards.”
Senator Joseph noted that while the landfill continues to be used out of necessity, the government is reluctant to simply open a new dump site. He said establishing a new landfill remains an option of last resort.
“We do note that moving towards green options is a likely way to go for us, and that’s what we’re working towards,” he added.
