A study commissioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and carried out by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that Puerto Rico may deplete its landfill capacity within 2 to 4 years. This longstanding issue has been intensified by the significant amount of debris resulting from two consecutive hurricanes that struck the region in 2017.
Nevertheless, at least two major waste management companies in Puerto Rico contend that the lack of capacity is not the core problem. The largest facilities assert that they can accommodate waste for over 30 years, attributing the challenges primarily to compliance issues and ineffective management, which appear to stem from limited resources. Further information on the landfill challenges in Puerto Rico can be explored.
The landfill conditions in Puerto Rico are concerning.
Randy Jensen, the president and CEO of EC Waste, emphasizes the critical landfill crisis in Puerto Rico, highlighting that the primary issue is not the air space but the existence of 22 unlined dumps still accepting waste. He points out that while regulations are in place, their enforcement is inconsistent across the island. Jensen advocates for more uniform enforcement at all waste receiving sites to address this pressing concern.
The majority of landfills in Puerto Rico are owned by municipalities, which often operate with considerable autonomy, as noted by Carlos Contreras, CEO and president of Consolidated Waste Services. His company manages five landfills that serve 19 jurisdictions, some of which are lined, but not all. The law permits operators of pre-Subtitle D sites to add lined cells, provided that the unlined portions are closed; however, many operators are failing to close these unlined areas, leaving them active.
Additionally, the slow administrative progress in obtaining necessary permits is a significant hurdle. Contreras mentions that he has been awaiting approval for four years to expand two landfills for Subtitle D lined portions. This delay, along with the ongoing operation of non-compliant landfills, is largely attributed to a lack of funding and technical expertise in the region.
Operators in the region have identified the inconsistent distribution of waste management facilities as a significant concern, leading to disparities in operational conditions. The majority of landfills in the northeastern area of the island have reached their capacity and are no longer accepting waste, despite this region being the primary source of waste generation. In contrast, while there are numerous sites in the southwest, the volume of waste is considerably lower. This has intensified competition in the southwest, compelling operators to drastically reduce their tipping fees, which in turn necessitates additional investments to comply with Subtitle D regulations.
The CEO of EC Waste has indicated that Puerto Rico possesses nearly 100 million cubic yards of compliant air space, along with approximately 40 million cubic yards earmarked for future expansion, totaling over 140 million tonnes of capacity. This substantial availability of air space presents an opportunity for improved waste management solutions across the island.
How can we can transform Puerto Rico's landfills into sustainable resources.
The Caribbean Environmental Protection Division of the EPA is actively involved in facilitating recovery funding and is working alongside local and federal partners to establish recycling solutions for materials generated from demolitions. This initiative aims to enhance environmental sustainability in the region.
In addition, the EPA is supporting the Puerto Rican government in the assessment and approval of new compliant landfill cells. The agency has issued consent orders to certain non-compliant landfills, mandating the installation of interim covers and EPA-approved groundwater monitoring systems by designated deadlines, with penalties for non-compliance.
Smaller non-compliant landfills are projected to close within five to seven years due to waste overflow, which Contreras suggests may lead to a more equitable competitive landscape. However, some larger non-compliant sites may still be permitted to accept waste in the future. Furthermore, the Department of Justice has filed a complaint against the municipality of Toa Alta, urging it to cease solid waste disposal at its landfill and rectify hazardous conditions that violate federal and local waste management laws.
• The municipality of Toa Alta is not implementing adequate measures to stop significant quantities of leachate, which is water contaminated with hazardous pollutants from the landfill, from infiltrating adjacent neighborhoods, surface waters, and the underlying groundwater aquifer.
• The landfill's slopes in specific regions exhibit instability, posing a risk of collapse that could jeopardize the safety of workers at the site and residents living in proximity to the landfill's base.
• The Municipality has failed to consistently apply the necessary soil cover over waste at the landfill following daily disposal operations. This soil cover, referred to as daily cover, serves to deter insects, vermin, birds, and unauthorized individuals from accessing the landfill waste, thereby contributing to the mitigation of disease transmission, including dengue and Zika viruses.
The EPA is coordinating with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources regarding the issues at the landfill. This collaboration aims to enhance solid waste management practices in Puerto Rico.
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