EU PROJECTS ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

1. EU PROJECTS ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT BY: RAZIA ZARIFF

2. NABORO LANDFILL • The construction of Naboro Sanitary Landfill was financed by the European Union and the construction costs amounted to FJD 8.7 millions (EUR 4.0 millions at the exchange rate of August 2004). • The original project budget was reduced and reductions in the delivery were made. • Substantial technical assistance for environmental impact assessment, design and supervision was also financed from the EU.

3. The History of Naboro Sanitary Landfill • The planning for a new regional sanitary started back in the mid-nineties and the selection of the Naboro site is based on feasibility studies, geological, geotechnical and hydro-geotechnical surveys. • Furthermore the site is near the coast and there are excellent access conditions to the site.

4. The landfill - stage 1 - was designed by the German company Hydroplan in the period 2000 – 2003. • Phase I was constructed by the company Downer Construction in the period 2004 - 2005.

5. 9th EDF Programme • Fiji Solid Waste Management Project • The possibilities for grant assistance to the waste management sector under the current 9th EDF programme would be in the range of EUR 2.5 to 2.7 millions.

6. The task of the Project Formulation Mission is to analyse the current situation in solid waste management and to propose the specific activities to be financed by the EU: • Project Component 1: Institutional Strengthening of the Department of Environment; • Project Component 2: Improvements at Naboro Sanitary Landfill; • Project Component 3: Restoration of Lami Dumpsite; • Project Component 4: Waste Management in the Northern Division.

7. OUTCOMES • DoE needs additional staff and technical and financial resources • Improvements to operations of Naboro as in the leachate ponds and adding aerators

8. Proposed Measures for Restoration of Lami Dumpsite • It was the Consultant’s opinion that available funds should be used for restoration of Lami Dumpsite. The principal activities in this restoration could be: • Sufficient covering of the waste body with a landfill gas drainage layer and a layer of relatively impermeable topsoil and landscaping; • Establishment of a erosion protection structure along the Tamavua River; • Installation of landfill gas flaring equipment and - if budget allows - landfill gas utilisation equipment if the gas production is sufficient for utilisation.

9. Potential Land Use of the Lami Dumpsite after Restoration • The bearing capacity of the soil/ waste at the site is insufficient to carry any structures or constructions unless the structures/ constructions are supported of piles rammed down to the bedrock. Anyhow the surface around the structures will continue the settlements. Therefore the site is not suitable for use of construction works. • Furthermore the production of landfill gas will expose any in-door activity to danger for a long period. • It is therefore recommended not to plan any development at the site other than out-doors recreational purposes.

10. The investments and operating costs have been calculated for two alternatives: • Construction of sheet-piling erosion protection wall, landscaping and installation of landfill gas collection system with flaring of the gas; • As Alternative 1, but with gas engine for exploitation of the landfill gas for electricity production.

11. After having evaluated the current situation at and around Lami Dumpsite it was the Consultant’s conclusion that a restoration of the site should be implemented in order the create stabile conditions at the site for the decomposition of waste to proceed at a lower, controlled level and eventually fade out following the completion of the decomposition of the waste.

12. For this purpose the following works should be carried out: • Shaping the waste body and cover it with 20cm gravel for gas drainage and 50cm soil for vegetation; • Securing the water front against erosion by establishing a revetment of sheet piling along the Tamavua River and along the coast; • Establish gas wells for extraction and flaring of the landfill gas produced in the waste body; • Establish a gas drainage trench along the western boarder line of the site; • Issue a special request for buildings within 100m from the waste body to install gas detectors and alarm; • Develop the dumpsite area only for future outdoor recreational purposes.

13. The current activities related to registration of waste transports from Suva Town Council area and truck washing could be transferred to Naboro Sanitary Landfill and the area in Lami completely vacated.

14. Solid Waste Management in the Northern Division • Analysis of the Existing Situation: • Generally, the situation in Labasa seems most critical as the existing landfill is in a poor condition and the waste quantity is the biggest of the two towns’. However, the proposed new site is too small and will be very costly to develop due to construction of access road and a hilly terrain on the site. • The proposed site in Savusavu seems much better, but here the waste quantity is small indeed and the landfill development cost per input unit is likely to be high.

15. Assessment of Risks and Development Opportunities • Development of any of the two sites in the Northern District will call for a substantial TA component for feasibility study, design and EIA. • This could easily amount to EUR 400,000-600,000 per site

16. The implementation (construction) of the sites will require funds beyond the budget available for the present project. The construction costs could be EUR 3-6 millions depending on the site, the need for access road construction, leachate treatment concept and the initial landfill capacity included in Phase 1. • The proposed landfill site for Labasa is small and located poorly and further work and public consultation could end with a negative result. The effective landfill area easily could be confined to even less than 4 ha. Such small area will not allow for any significant height of the waste body and the capacity will be small. • The traffic and possibly the discharge of treated leachate are potential killer assumptions for the project.

17. . The major dilemma in the Northern Division is the proposed landfill site in Labasa as the risks are high in terms of a possible rejection by the public and high development costs. • Transport of waste from Labasa to Savusavu is an alternative option, but it would be considerable more expensive than the opposite transport. • Thus, it was the Consultant’s recommendation to explore alternative landfill sites in Labasa (preferably in lower lying areas nearer to the coast) and assess the feasibility of a scenario with one landfill and one transfer station for the Northern Division.

18. Thank you