The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has recently approved the allocation of three acres of land in the Yeptons/Cooks area for the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

This decision marks a significant step forward as it will facilitate the construction of a new headquarters building and an operational base for the authority. Senator Michael Joseph, the newly appointed Junior Minister of Health and the Environment, emphasized the importance of this development.

He stated that establishing a purpose-built facility will significantly contribute to the NSWMA’s objectives of fostering a cleaner, greener environment across Antigua and Barbuda.

The new headquarters will provide dedicated space to properly house the additional equipment that has been purchased to enhance the authority’s capabilities. In addition to the new headquarters, Senator Joseph unveiled plans for the Cooks Landfill’s development.

The Cabinet has also approved the hiring of a consultant from Essex, UK, tasked with transforming the landfill into a more efficient operation. This consultant’s mandate is to design and implement features that will modernize the landfill, ultimately making it a state-of-the-art facility that serves the community better.

Senator Joseph also announced that the NSWMA is set to import specialized bins for distribution to households across the nation. These bins will serve two primary purposes: they will facilitate the separation of household waste, which is a vital step toward more sustainable waste management practices, and they will assist in the mechanization of the waste collection process.

The intention is to streamline the emptying of these bins into garbage trucks, making the entire operation more efficient and less labor-intensive. Further enhancing the operational capacity of the NSWMA, Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph expressed the need for specialized training for the new drivers of the recently acquired equipment. He highlighted the importance of rigorous training, particularly in relation to operating the manual-shift gears that come standard with the new vehicles.

This training is crucial to ensuring that the drivers are fully prepared to handle the equipment safely and effectively. Just last week, the NSWMA received seven new dump trucks, a backhoe, and an excavator, among other equipment, with additional machinery expected to arrive early in the new year.

This influx of resources demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the solid waste management infrastructure, ultimately benefitting all residents of Antigua and Barbuda. The proactive measures being taken underscore the administration’s dedication to environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and public health.