appendix k solid waste characterization on san...

APPENDIX K

Solid Waste Characterization on

San Pedro Town Caye Caulker

Village and Belize City

- Winston F. Panton

Solid Waste Characterization on San Pedro Town

Caye Caulker Village

and

Belize City

Submitted by Winston F. Panton March, 2009

Waste Generation and Composition Survey at San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Belize City

Solid Waste Characterization Project Report

Submitted by Winston F. Panton (March, 2009)

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Objective

The objective of this assignment is to characterize the composition of the solid waste

generated at Belize City, San Pedro and Caye Caulker in order to obtain planning level

data for the sizing of recycling facility and barging operation through a survey of

representative samples of residential and business areas.

Activities

The activities required for the waste composition survey include the collection of data in

a program that analyses physical samples of the waste generated in Belize City, San

Pedro and Caye Caulker. The results of the survey should generate waste generation rates

per person, household, commercial, restaurants, tourist resorts, hotels and institutions for

each of the three communities.

The waste generation survey’s scope of work will include the planning and data

collection of a program that analyzes physical samples of the waste generated at each of

the three communities (Belize City, San Pedro and Caye Caulker). The results of the

survey will generate current waste generation rates per person, households, commercial,

restaurants, tourist resorts, hotels, and institutions for each of the three communities. The

methodology selected by the Contractor shall accurately determine domestic waste and

recyclables per capita generation for the various socio-economic groups, visitor (hotel

guess) and commercial and institutional waste and recyclable generation rates. For each

of the three communities the field work will involve the collection of at least thirty

samples over a one-week time period from domestic sources. Additionally, at each

community representative samples from hotels and resorts, institutions, industries, clinics

and hospitals will be collected over a one-week period as well.


For each of the three communities the following should be repeated (ANNEX A):

.


INTRODUCTION

Country Profile

Belize is a great winter tourist destination as it enjoys a warm sub tropical climate. The

population (322,100) is about the same as Corpus Christi, Texas, and the country itself is

about the size of New Hampshire. The society is multicultural, consisting of African-

European Creoles, Spanish-Indian Mestizos, African-Indian Garinagus, Mayan Indians,

and a few Europeans, North Americans, and Asians.

Belizeans are, for the most part, genuinely friendly people, who lead a laid-back

Caribbean lifestyle.

Zoning

Community zoning is not well achieved in the three communities of Belize City, San

Pedro and Caye Caulker. The result of this is that commercial business are mingled and

distributed among the dwelling areas; although Belize City does have a commercial

district in the Albert Street and Regent Street and Queen Street areas of central Belize

City. San Pedro also has a small business district on Barrier Reef Drive.

Timing of Survey

The Belize City Garbage Characterization survey was attempted in a time of poor

cooperation from the general community. This problem is as a result of bitter disputes

between city government and waste management companies and a highly politicized

campaign period.

The high tourism profile of life on San Pedro and Caye Caulker will skew the results of

the survey in these areas since the survey took place in the dead season for tourist

activities during the months October and November. In this period many businesses were

not operating or operating at a minimum. At the same time the very large majority of the

“service” population was given leave and would have left the islands for vacation. Many

of these employees maintain families in other parts of the country of Belize.

Sampling volumes

Generally the collection from a sample of 30 completely filled ( to about a foot above the

pan) the back of a pick-up truck or a small trailer about the same size. Collections within

two defined areas required two truck loads. This was the case both in San Pedro and

Belize City.

http://www.slickrock.com/odydates.html


This volume works out to about 4 feet by 6 feet by three feet or 72 cubic feet / 8 cubic

yards.

BELIZE CITY

Although the capital city of the country

of Belize is Belmopan, the largest city in the country is Belize City, with a population of

about 66,422 living within an area of about 3,449 acres; and a large amount of economic

activity is carried on here. The water is safe to drink in most areas, and the standard of

health care is among the highest in Central America.

Belize City is home to a majority of small industries. There are three (3) major medical

health facilities and two (2) medical health laboratories operating as well as two (2)

medical health clinics.


SAN PEDRO

Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize.

The caye’s size is approximately 25 miles long and 4 miles wide at it’s widest. It is a

narrow peninsula on the southern end of Yucatan about 4 miles wide in the northern third

and narrowing to a few hundred yards in the southern part. This southern part is

interspersed with several inland lagoons. The whole island is flanked by a narrow

manmade river at the Northern border with Mexico, by the Barrier Reef and the

Caribbean Sea on its eastern side and by the Bay of Chetumal and the Corozal district to

the west.

The main population dwell within a central town core area and adjacent service

communities surrounding it immediately to the north, west and south situated along a

thin, 3 mile strip of the island 5 miles from the southern tip and about 17 miles from the

northern end.

Other affluent communities are rapidly developing to the north and south of the town of

San Pedro consisting of retirement and holiday dwellings and managed Resorts with a

mixture of time-share as well as owned condominiums.

Total population of San Pedro is variously quoted as somewhere between 15,000 - 20,000

persons. Officially, the 2008 mid-year population estimate is 11,600.


There is one (1) Medical health clinic operating on San Pedro between the hours of 8:00

a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.

CAYE CAULKER

Caye Caulker is located south of Ambergris Caye and has earned a reputation as a haven

for budget travelers.

The small island is about 4mi/6.5km long and measures approximately 650yd/600m in

width at its widest point.

The population of Caye Caulker is around 4,000 -5,000. Officially, it is lower. But these

numbers are closer to reality as of January 2007.

Caye Caulker has a relaxing atmosphere with white sand streets and golf carts for

transportation. Guesthouses are rather basic, but the pleasant climate and numerous water

sports opportunities continue to draw several visitors each year.

Luciano Reyes purchased the island in 1870 and then divided the land among several

families. Caye Caulker has always been a fishing settlement and remains one today;

however tourism is a rapidly growing industry.


GARBAGE MANAGEMENT

BELIZE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Although an authority was established many years ago it never was fully operational for

many reasons. It seems that there is now an effort and political will to establish a proper

national authority.

BELIZE CITY

The management of garbage is the responsibility of the Belize City Council. The council

however contracts garbage collection responsibilities to a private company, The Belize

City Waste Management. This company is responsible for collecting of the city’s

municipal and commercial garbage twice weekly and delivery to the city’s central dump

site. This site is a poorly managed garbage tip and is the direct responsibility of the City

Council maintenance department.

Garbage is actually collected on rotation from the North side of the city 2 days per week

and from the South side of the city also 2 days per week; and from the commercial and

hotel centers 2 days per week.

The Belize City Waste Management Company provides a free service for dwelling

houses which is actually paid for under contract with the City Council. Commercial

businesses do however pay for their garbage disposal to the central city dump site; and

this is done either through the Belize City Waste Management Company or by private

carrier.

There has been an ongoing dispute between the Belize City government and The Belize

City Waste Management Company due to financial and political disagreements. This

dispute has created severe disruption in the garbage collection of Belize City for a

protracted period and has caused difficulties in the collection of survey data even though

both sides of the disputing entities have pledged support and interest of the survey.

Two other private waste management companies are responsible under contract to the

Belize City Council for the maintenance of street garbage and drainage clearance in the

north side and south side of Belize City. These companies have also been in dispute over

a protracted period.

Because of the public dissatisfaction with the disputing parties and City Government the

general citizenry and private business establishments were generally uncooperative in

providing valuable information for the survey. Some also violently refused to have the

garbage removed by the survey team. Since December of 2008 at least three attempts at


survey work had to be abandoned. The final results of the Belize City survey are

therefore incomplete.

SAN PEDRO

The management of garbage is the responsibility of the San Pedro Council. The San

Pedro Town Council’s garbage collection department is responsible for collecting of the

city’s municipal and commercial garbage daily and delivery to the town’s central dump

site. This site is an open area of about 5 acres set between small lagoons within a

wetlands area about 2 miles to the south of San Pedro Town. The garbage tip and is the

direct responsibility of the City Council maintenance department which minimally

separates and burns on a daily basis.

The service is free of cost to the dwelling houses but commercial businesses are charged

for the service by the Town Council whiles some businesses, and in particular

construction companies, employ private collection and delivery.

Collection of garbage starts around 4:00 a.m. each morning according to a well planned

pick-up route through the main town of San Pedro. The day’s work is usually completed

by 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The service is provided 6 out of 7 days from Mondays to

Saturdays

The Maintenance department operates two 5 cubic yards trucks with open dump pan. A

driver and a team of three sanitation workers accompany each truck on the collection

route which start at the Boca del Rio Bridge north of town and continues south of the

town limits near the Victoria House Resort/Hotel.

CAYECAULKER

All garbage collection and delivery is done privately on Caye Caulker. Privately

employed garbage collectors use three-wheeled cycles or pick-up trucks or even wheel

barrow to collect and deliver to the Village Council managed garbage dump. This dump

is located near the airstrip on the south portion of the island and is nestled beside a small

lagoon. It is about 5 acres in size.

The dump manager is an untrained couple who live on site in a shack near the entrance

gate. Management is very informal. Each delivery is charged at the gate for immediate

payment and is given directions for the garbage delivery spot. The charge is

approximately $3.00 Belize dollars per delivery cart.

The dump is closed between the hours of 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. next morning.

Deliveries are accepted 7 days per week. The garbage is minimally separated and burned

when necessary.


Unofficially, “night soil” raw sewerage is dumped on this site as well and seems to be

carried on during the dark hours of night. The area is infested with crocodiles which

occasionally capture the keeper’s dog companions.

Medical Wastes

There is no medical facility on the island of Caye Caulker.

The medical facilities on San Pedro consist of

1. The San Pedro Health Poly-Clinic

2. Hope Center a small private clinic

3. Small Medical clinic and laboratory for out patients

Except for child deliveries and some urgent after hours week end emergencies The Poly-

Clinic is used for all other medical hospital needs.

The Poly-Clinic produces approximately three large garbage bags of waste 2 times per

week of which about 1 bag is RED Waste. (i.e. personal communication.)

These wastes are disposed of on demand by special arrangement with the San Pedro

Town sanitation department. Improved arrangements for storage and collection are

presently being negotiated.

There is no incinerator at this clinic. The waste is burned normally in the open dump site.

The Belize City hospitals do use incinerators for some of it’s wastes.

..Construction debri

There is a considerable amount of construction taking place especially in the tourism

resort development and new home construction both in San Pedro / Ambergris caye and

Belize city.

The majority of the construction waste generated is privately delivered to the garbage

dumps on an unscheduled and private basis and is also used for land fill.. This activity is

hardly reflected in the survey.


References: http://www.planetware.com/belize/caye-caulker-biz-be-cac.htm

http://www.slickrock.com/belize.html http://www.mfe.govt.nz http://maps.cathalac.org/Downloads/data/bz/servir_bz_city_analysis_1980-2007.pdf

http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/

http://www.planetware.com/belize/caye-caulker-biz-be-cac.htm

http://www.slickrock.com/belize.html

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/

http://maps.cathalac.org/Downloads/data/bz/servir_bz_city_analysis_1980-2007.pdf

http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/


SURVEY RESULTS

The survey was carried out using workers who had at least 2 years of experience

collecting garbage both in Belize City and San Pedro Town. They were already familiar

with the collection routes and methods of delivery in these communities. They were

introduced to the survey methodology with a short period of training in sorting and

safety.

Credit is acknowledged for the good cooperation of the San Pedro sanitation services

department and also the Caye Caulker Village council chairman and staff and particularly

to the dump site keeper. The Belize City Council sanitation department as well as the

Belize Waste Management Company provided some useful assistance.

Activities were carried out using newly purchased equipment and scales purchased

locally and work and health safety accessories were utilized.

The methodology used was asset out in Annex a above and following methods set out in

Figure 2.1: Waste classification from the following publication:

Solid Waste Analysis Protocol Published in March 2002 by the Ministry for the

Environment PO Box 10-362, Wellington, New Zealand

This document is available on the Ministry for the Environment’s web site:

http://www.mfe.govt.nz

RESULTS

The summary results of the survey are included in the following pages of the report and

details are attached in spread sheets as follows:

Project design and results (San Pedro Caye caulker Belize City)

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/


BELIZE CITY SUMMARY DATA SHEET

SAN PEDRO SUMMARY DATA SHEET

CAYE CAULKER SUMMARY DATA SHEET

COMMENTS

The author apologize for the many delays in the completion of this

assignment.

A number of setbacks plagued the ongoing activities. At the start of the

project local economic activity was at a minimum either because of the

month long national holidays or because of the low season in the major

tourist economic industry. Additionally there was / is an ongoing dispute

between the garbage management companies and the Belize City

government which spilled over into a broiling municipal elections season.

Things are finally getting back to normal for the municipal authorities and

garbage collection is finally being normalized.

Demographic information is not as thorough as was hoped due to a local

suspicion towards the possible use of the information for taxation purposes.

Detailed recording of the results of this survey is reported on Microsoft

spreadsheet where the type of garbage collection point is identified by the

KEY below.

KEY

B BAR devoted to the sale and consumption of spirits and sodas

C CONDO devoted to condominium ownership

D DWELLING devoted to family ownership and sometime room and board for students and workers

H HOTEL devoted to general hotel business

R RESORT devoted to tourist or business seasonal occupancy

HR HOTEL & RESORT devoted to tourist or business seasonal occupancy and condominium or time share ownership

S STORE devoted to the sale of merchandize and groceries , as well as tourist souvenirs and gift items

CB Commerce/Business devoted to general commercial and business services


BELIZE CITY SUMMARY DATA - BELIZE

0.0

500.0

1000.0

1500.0

2000.0

2500.0

3000.0

3500.0

4000.0

4500.0

PAPER

PLA

STICS

PUTRIC

IBLE

S

FERROUS

NON-F

ERROUS

GLA

SS

TEXTILES

NAPPIE

S A

ND

RUBBLE

,

TIM

BER

RUBBER

Haz

zardos

CLASSIFICATION

WE

IGH

T (

OU

NC

ES

)

HIGH INCOME

MIDDLE INCOME

LOW INCOME


HIGH INCOME DWELLING - BELIZE CITY

0%0%

9%

1%

0%

0%0%

PAPER

18%

PLASTICS

18%

PUTRICIBLES

28%

FERROUS

7%

0%

0%

NON-FERROUS

0%

GLASS

12%

0%

TEXTILES

3%

NAPPIES AND

4%

RUBBLE,

0% 0% TIMBER

0%0%

RUBBER

2% 0%Hazzardos

0%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-

FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


MIDDLE INCOME DWELLING - BELIZE CITY, BELIZE

0%

0%

0%

0%0%

2%

0%

0%

5%

0%TIMBER

0%

0%0%

RUBBER

1%

Hazzardos

3%

RUBBLE,

0%

NAPPIES AND

1%

0%

GLASS

5%

NON-FERROUS

0%

FERROUS

4%

TEXTILES

10%

PAPER

21%

PLASTICS

14%

PUTRICIBLES

34%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


LOW INCOME DWELLING - BELIZE CITY, BELIZE

PAPER

6%

0%0%

0%

0% 0%TIMBER

0%

0%

Hazzardos

0%

RUBBLE,

0%

RUBBER

1%

GLASS

4% 0%

TEXTILES

2%0%

NAPPIES AND

12%

0%

NON-FERROUS

0%

FERROUS

12%

0%

2%

0%

2%

PLASTICS

17%

PUTRICIBLES

40%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


GARBAGE CHARACTERIZATION SURVEY - CAYE CAULKER SUMMARY

0.0

200.0

400.0

600.0

800.0

1000.0

1200.0

1400.0

1600.0

PAPER

PLASTI

CS

PUTR

ICIB

LES

FERROUS

NON-F

ERROUS

GLA

SS

TEXTILES

NAP

PIES A

ND

RUBBLE

,

TIMBE

R

RUBBER

Haz

zard

os

CLASSIFICATION

WE

IGH

T (

OU

NC

ES

)

ALL INCOMES

PUBLIC BINS

HOTELS

BUSSINESSES


ALL INCOME DWELLINGS - CAYE CAULKER BZE

0%

0%0%

0%

0%0%

0%

0%

RUBBLE,

0% 0%TIMBER

0%

0%

1%

6%

PLASTICS

9%

PUTRICIBLES

27%

FERROUS

3%

NON-FERROUS

0%

GLASS

5%

0%

TEXTILES

3%

PAPER

17%

NAPPIES AND

29%

RUBBER

0%

0%

Hazzardos

0%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


HOTELS - CAYE CAULKER, BELIZE

0%

0%0%0%

0%

4%

1%

RUBBLE,

0%

0%2%

PAPER

8%

TIMBER

0%

RUBBER

0%

Hazzardos

0%

0%

FERROUS

3%

0%

0%

0%

TEXTILES

2%

NON-FERROUS

1%

GLASS

18%

NAPPIES AND

12%

PUTRICIBLES

32%

PLASTICS

18%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


BUSSINESSES - CAYE CAULKER, BELIZE

0%

0%

0%0%

RUBBLE,

0%

2%1%

0%

2%

0%

0%TEXTILES

1%

0%

0%

NON-FERROUS

1%

GLASS

5%

NAPPIES AND

0%

TIMBER

0% RUBBER

2%

0%

Hazzardos

0%

PAPER

18%

PLASTICS

27%

PUTRICIBLES

31%

FERROUS

9%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


PUBLIC BINS - CAYE CAULKER, BELIZE

1%

1%

0%

0%

PAPER

0%

0%

2%

0%

0%

0%

0%

RUBBLE,

0%

TIMBER

0%

RUBBER

0%

Hazzardos

0%

NAPPIES AND

3%

0%

0%

0%

TEXTILES

4%

NON-FERROUS

1%

GLASS

4%

FERROUS

3% PLASTICS

11%

PUTRICIBLES

69%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


GARBAGE CHARACTERIZATION SURVEY - SAN PEDRO SUMMARY DATA

0.0

1000.0

2000.0

3000.0

4000.0

5000.0

6000.0

7000.0

8000.0

9000.0

10000.0

PAPER

PLASTI

CS

PUTR

ICIB

LES

FERROUS

NON-F

ERROUS

GLA

SS

TEXTILES

NAP

PIES A

ND

RUBBLE

,

TIMBE

R

RUBBER

Haz

zard

os

CLASSIFICATION

WE

IGH

T (

OU

NC

ES

)

MIDDLE INCOME

LOW INCOME

HOTELS

HIGH INCOME

BUSSINESSES


HIGH INCOME DWELLING - SAN PEDRO A.C.

0%

6%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

RUBBLE,

1%

TIMBER

0%

RUBBER

4%

0%

Hazzardos

1%

TEXTILES

8%

NAPPIES AND

4%

GLASS

13%

FERROUS

13%

NON-FERROUS

10%

PUTRICIBLES

16%

PAPER

13%

0%

PLASTICS

11%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


MIDDLE INCOME - SAN PEDRO A.C.

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%0%

0%

0% PAPER

7%

RUBBER

1%

NAPPIES AND

9%

TEXTILES

11%

GLASS

7%

NON-FERROUS

0%

FERROUS

5%

PUTRICIBLES

44%

0%

PLASTICS

15%

0%

0%

0%

0%

Hazzardos

0%TIMBER

0%

RUBBLE,

0%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


LOW INCOME - SAN PEDRO A.C.

0%

0%0%

0%0%

0%

0%0%

0%

0%0%

0%

NON-FERROUS

1%

TEXTILES

8%

GLASS

6%

FERROUS

3%

PLASTICS

14%

PUTRICIBLES

48%

NAPPIES AND

4%

PAPER

13%

RUBBLE,

2% 0%TIMBER

0% 0%

RUBBER

1%Hazzardos

0%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos


BUSSINESSES - SAN PEDRO A.C.

0%

0%

0%0%

12%

0%

0%

0%

RUBBLE,

0%

0%

0%0%

TIMBER

0%

0%

RUBBER

0%

0%

Hazzardos

0%

GLASS

4%

TEXTILES

1%

0%

FERROUS

2%

NON-FERROUS

0%

NAPPIES AND

2%

PAPER

17%

PLASTICS

15%

PUTRICIBLES

47%

PAPER

PLASTICS

PUTRICIBLES

FERROUS

NON-FERROUS

GLASS

TEXTILES

NAPPIES AND

RUBBLE,

TIMBER

RUBBER

Hazzardos

appendix k solid waste characterization on san...

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