Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Plans in motion to clear Pockwood scrap

Plans in motion to clear Pockwood scrap

Leaders recently commended the territory’s WE RECYCLE programme, which they said diverted an estimated 3,328 tonnes of recyclable materials from the incinerator and landfill to two established recycling centres.

“This was achieved with the introduction of 51 recycling points on Tortola and Virgin Gorda,” Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said Dec. 31 in the House of Assembly. “In the not-too-distant future, the Department of Waste Management, in collaboration with Green VI, will introduce new recycling bins at these collection points.”

Green VI set up at least one drop-off point in every village this spring, according to Deputy Director Sarah Penney. In a matter of weeks, the organisation brought the number of sites from seven on Tortola and 10 on Virgin Gorda up to a total 46 locations throughout the territory.

The current bins, which are constructed from treated wooden pallets, soon will be replaced by others made of recycled plastic, Mr. Malone said Dec. 31.

The minister also reported that 123 students participated in the first-ever National Student Recycling Competition, delivering as many glass, plastic and aluminium items as possible before Dec. 31 in a bid to win a laptop.

Mr. Malone said his team reported “students were all excited to take part in the competition and are also involving their families, neighbours and friends.”

Vetoing vehicles


Mr. Malone also declared a “war on derelict vehicles,” explaining that Cabinet recently appointed Tortola Concrete Products to lead the processing and exporting of derelict vehicles and other scrap metal to be recycled.

“And for the first time, the government will attempt to recoup funds from this type of operation by entering into a sales agreement with companies interested in purchasing the scrap metal directly from the government of the Virgin Islands,” Mr. Malone said.

Works, he said, are to begin immediately after the holiday break.

Starting soon, he added, government will also promise an $80 “bounty” to anyone who spots, marks and transports any abandoned vehicles to approved locations on Jost Van Dyke, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Tortola.

Pockwood pickup


“We expect to completely remove all derelict vehicles and scrap metals from the temporary derelict vehicle site in Pockwood Pond and the temporary dumpsite in Cox Heath, which were both created as a result of Hurricane Irma,” Mr. Malone said.

Paraquita Bay was cleared of all refuse and restored, and he said illegal dumping there and at Sea Cows Bay will be prosecuted.

Mr. Malone noted that his ministry team and Agency Red, a consultancy firm re-examining the territory’s comprehensive waste management strategy, completed their consultancy and would be gathering public input early this year.

“At the close of the consultation, the ministry will issue a request for proposals for the collection of waste and other measures aimed in maintaining a clean and healthy environment,” he said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×