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Efforts being made to get incinerator back online by yearend- DWM Director

The incinerator at Pockwood Pond has been offline since February 2022, following an early morning fire that caused significant damage. Photo: VINO/File
Director of the Department of Waste Management (DWM) Mr Marcus E. Solomon has said efforts are underway to get the incinerator at Pockwood Pond back online after more than a year of inactivity. Photo: GIS
Director of the Department of Waste Management (DWM) Mr Marcus E. Solomon has said efforts are underway to get the incinerator at Pockwood Pond back online after more than a year of inactivity. Photo: GIS
Following the damage to the incinerator, garbage is being buried at the landfill; however, this often results in landfill fires, which particularly affect residents in Pockwood Pond and the First District. Photo: VINO/File
Following the damage to the incinerator, garbage is being buried at the landfill; however, this often results in landfill fires, which particularly affect residents in Pockwood Pond and the First District. Photo: VINO/File
Director of the Department of Waste Management (DWM) Mr Marcus E. Mr Solomon and Waste Management Officer Mr Neville Allen (left) visited the plant’s manufacturer Consutech Systems LLC in Richmond Virginia, United States earlier this month in what was said to be a ‘beneficial trip’. Photo: GIS
Director of the Department of Waste Management (DWM) Mr Marcus E. Mr Solomon and Waste Management Officer Mr Neville Allen (left) visited the plant’s manufacturer Consutech Systems LLC in Richmond Virginia, United States earlier this month in what was said to be a ‘beneficial trip’. Photo: GIS
POCKWOOD POND, Tortola, VI- Director of the Department of Waste Management (DWM) Mr Marcus E. Solomon has said efforts are underway to get the incinerator at Pockwood Pond back online after more than a year of inactivity.

Mr Solomon and Waste Management Officer Mr Neville Allen visited the plant’s manufacturer Consutech Systems LLC in Richmond Virginia, United States earlier this month in what he said was a ‘beneficial trip’.

“It allowed us to verify the status of some outstanding contract agreements, which puts us in a better place for a positive outcome to replace the spare parts necessary to have the incinerator functional by the end of the year,” Mr Solomon said in a Government Information Service (GIS) press release on September 25, 2023.

New relationship forged with plant manufacturer

The director stated that a number of measures were initiated to allow for improved compliance in the contractual arrangement.  “We have set guidelines for shipping, set new timelines, implemented a process that accounts for progress and delays as well as implementing penalties which include termination of the said contracts,” he explained.

The director added, “We are hoping that this trip has reinforced the relationship between both parties and that we both can continue to benefit from a symbiotic relationship.”

The public is being reminded in the interim to continue do their part to assist the department by diverting as much waste from Pockwood Pond where possible. Persons are asked to rinse and separate plastic, glass and aluminum household waste and utilise the Territory’s, “We Recycle” programme.”

Landfill fires upset residents

The incinerator has been offline since February 2022, following an early morning fire that caused significant damage.

Following the damage to the incinerator, garbage is being buried at the landfill; however, this often results in landfill fires, which particularly affect residents in Pockwood Pond and the First District.

Some residents of the First District even showed up at the House of Assembly (HoA) on Monday, April 17, 2023, to protest the constant landfill fires at Pockwood Pond.

Then Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) had apologised to the residents and promised that a new incinerator was being sourced to serve as a backup plan.

It is unclear if the new government has immediate plans to eventually source a new incinerator. 

13 Responses to “Efforts being made to get incinerator back online by yearend- DWM Director”

  • The watchdog (26/09/2023, 10:53) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pure talk after 10 years
  • bvibuzz (26/09/2023, 11:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This issue has been discussed for years this government needs crisis management advisors
  • Asking for my sick mother (26/09/2023, 11:24) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess the million dollar question is: how will the fire and smoke be managed in the meantime ?
  • Pig pilot (26/09/2023, 12:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Feel reassured efforts are also being made to get this pig off the ground .
  • telephone? (26/09/2023, 12:52) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    in any other business this issue would be resolved with a phone call or maybe a zoom meeting. Here in fantasy world bvi we send public sector employees on international trips oversees wracking up thousands in expenses on the backs of a choking (literally) economy. God help us please.
  • Emancipation (26/09/2023, 12:52) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please recycle and help to reduce the massive amounts of waste that goes to Pockwood Pond as you all can see in the pictures. We have to burn it which is killing us slowly. Everyone has a part to play. The Government alone cannot fix this.
  • Johnny come lately (26/09/2023, 13:02) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    He just joined the bandwagon so don't mind all that smart Trini talk.
  • SO U STOP POSTING (26/09/2023, 13:12) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    My BLOGGS AGAIN , EH BLONDIE ? U CAN'T HIDE FROM THE TRUTH NIG ~AH
  • WHAT!!! (26/09/2023, 13:39) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    No sense at all fixing it without a scrubber or it will be the same smoke put out just from a different source.
  • The Solution (26/09/2023, 20:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    maintenance maintenance maintenance
  • Island Paddler (27/09/2023, 06:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's killing us here in Coral Bay, St. John too.
  • more waste of money and time (27/09/2023, 08:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This could and should have been resolved long before now. It is not difficult to bring this back on line. It appears that it is simply a case of time and money. Money that we do not have as it has been wasted elsewhere. And why did we not have insurance on this facility so in a event like this the funds are there to repair the damage. Another example of management not doing the most basic business management!
  • Mary (27/09/2023, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We should thank the new Director for his efforts in resolving these difficult problems Since his appointment . We have already seen his efforts in many areas... I hope that he is receiving strong support from the Govvernment in cleaning up this untidy place.


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