University of Technology, Jamaica

School of Engineering
Chemical Engineering

Inorganic Chemical Technology

Request for Authorization

Prepared by:
Adrian Fagan - 1301500
Jodi-Ann Morgan- 1104915
Nyrone Eccleston- 1202660

Presented to: Major G. J. Virgo

RFA Problem Statement

Solid Waste Management

The recent fire at the Municipal Dump at Riverton City has shown that our solid waste disposal
system requires stricter management at every strata of our society. This includes the
categorization storage and disposal of hazardous waste and is an area that Jamaica is now forced
to give due attention.
A new hazardous waste management system should be designed and implemented for the entire
island of Jamaica.

Request For Authorization

Business Unit Group:
Business Unit:
Proposal Number:
Plant/Location:
Project short Title:

UTech, Jamaica
Beng 4-C. 130500, 1104915, 1202660
UTJ237-X-2015
2370X-University of Technology, Jamaica
Jamaica Solid Waste Management Project

Project Completion Date:

Post Project Review:

4 months after RFA Approval

24 months after RFA Approval

UTech Share
Capital
Expenses
Others
UTech Share

JAN Cooperation
32
25
50

68
75
50
Total

Chem. Eng. Share

Capital

960,000

3,000000
2,040,000

Expenses
Others

250,000
382,500

750,000

1,000,000
765,000

3,172500

4,765,000

382,500
Totals

1,592,500
US Dollars Total Request $4,765,000.00

Post-Project Review Responsibility: Karine Airapetian

Routing Start Date:
Authorization Number:
CHE150060
Date Authorized:
Reason Code Distribution
UTJ-4C08

Location Business Code (LBC) Distribution

AY2015/6

Will this project replace existing fixed asset?

No
Alliance Firm: 00010003-School of Engineering Waste Management Laboratories Services
Have any inter or intra location/BU budget allocations occurred?
Amount:
LBC:

No

Has this RFA received an advanced Check-Off Approval? No

By Whom:

Date:

Approval
RFA Roles
Title
Chemical Engineer
Engineer Co-ordinator
Cost Analyst
Hatch Alliance Manager
Hub Engineering Manager
Track

Seq.

Title

Individual

Location Approval
Individual
App.

Role/Responsibility
RFA Author
RFA Editor
RFA Editor
RFA Editor
RFA Editor
Date

Comment

Attachments

s
1
1

Alliance

Eng.Manager
Reliability &
Maintenance

1
1
1
1
1

3
4

Service Manager
EHS Manager
Refinery Creep

Operator
Technical

6
7

Manager
Refinery Manager
Financial
Controller &
Administrative

Manager
Managing
Director

Executive Summary
This approval request for US $4,765,000 is to implement a newly devised solid and hazardous
waste management system. In conjunction with the regulations of the National Sold Waste
Agency, this projects objective is to identify waste generation sources, remediate means of
collection, areas of storage, composting practices, disposal methods, sorting and incineration of
garbage. The outcome will have a positive impact on the environment and the health and
wellbeing of the Jamaican society and prevent the occurrence of the Riverton Dump fire with a
byproduct of electricity generation.

Background:
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) was established by the
National Solid Waste Management Act, 2001. The agency enforces small Inspectorate in
NSWMA to oversee collection, operation of licensed disposal facilities and address breaches of
the legislation. Some of its functions includes: Converting existing dumps to sanitary landfills,
develop new landfills and institute measures to encourage waste reduction.
Despite these main objectives of the NSWMA, it seems to be falling short of its
responsibilities, which is evident from the extensive Riverton dump fire. Out of the 15 existing
dumps in the country, the Riverton site serving the (Kingston Metropolitan Area) KMA is
considered the most problematic site from an environmental and social point of view. The site is
being operated without any formal operating or development procedures, safety and health
protection, or environmental safeguards. As a result, burning, dust, smoke, odor and vermin
problems are affecting the surrounding residential areas negatively and require immediate
mitigating measures, said an Inter-American Development Bank project document.
5

According to the Solid Waste Management Report (2007), other factors contributing to
the improper waste management of Jamaica, is the lack of technical and financial resources to
adequately manage waste. This has resulted in inefficient and inadequate collection, treatment
and disposal. This problem is further exacerbated by the lack of a comprehensive and integrated
waste management policy. Another challenge relates to the complexities brought about by the
different types and nature of wastes with which the country has to contend.
Parliament member Dayton Gordon for North West St.Ann, wrote The Jamaican
Observer stating that: A waste shed represents all the areas in a region from which waste is
collected and hauled to a common disposal site. Each waste shed contains two or more parishes
where disposal sites can be found. In Jamaica there are no sanitary landfills. Watersheds in
Jamaica include: the Riverton, North eastern, Retirement and West Kirkvine Watershed. Gordon
went on to say that: The population of Riverton Waste shed is concentrated in a relatively
compact metropolitan area, generating about 1Kg of waste per person per day, which is estimated
to produce about 667 tonnes of waste per day. The current landfill at Riverton servicing the area
is processing less than 50 per cent of the waste.

According to a Solid Waste Management Report (2007), solid waste is broadly defined as nonhazardous, industrial, commercial and domestic refuse including household organic trash, street
sweepings, hospital and institutional garbage, and construction wastes. In 2006, approximately 1
463 905.5 tonnes3 of solid waste were produced from residential, commercial and institutional
sources.
Over the past decade there has been a 150 per cent increase in per capita generation of solid
waste from 0.6 kg/person/day (Treasure, 2002) in 1996 to 1.5 kg/person/day in 2006. This
6

means that the total volume of solid waste has more than doubled over the period moving from
approximately 549 690 tonnes.
A Waste Characterization Study carried out by the National Solid Waste Management
Authority (NSWMA) in 2006 reported that 69 per cent of the solid waste produced in Jamaica is
organic and represents approximately 1.01 million tonnes by volume.
About 20.0 per cent of the solid waste collected (mainly domestic) is handled by private
collectors and approximately 10.0-20.0 per cent of solid waste is not collected by any formal
system. Most uncollected waste ends up in drains, streams, wetlands (contributing to flooding),
rivers, sea, open lots and illegal dumpsite. In 2006, approximately 55.0 per cent of Jamaican
households disposed of their garbage via garbage trucks while 38.0 per cent burn their garbage.
Garbage collection in the KMA and Other Towns has been more efficient than in other areas of
the country. Collection is particularly low in rural areas where the main method of treatment and
disposal is burning. Other disposal methods include burying and dumping on open lots and in
gullies. While burying garbage may improve aesthetics, depending on the type of garbage, it can
be detrimental to groundwater, soil and terrestrial organisms.
Waste that is hazardous has properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to
human health or the environment (United States Environmental Protection Agency,2006).
Hazardous waste can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges or by-products of
manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products like cleaning fluids or
pesticides.

Table Showing sources and types of hazardous waste

The NSWM Authority lacks adequate technical personnel to effectively manage wastes. Also the
inability of the Authority to effectively manage its landfills and control illegal ones has lead to
increased informal dumping of solid waste. For example, commercial entities are responsible for
the collection and disposal of their own solid waste. However, weak capacity to police them
results in illegal dumping being a prevalent problem.
Recommendations
The KMA produces about 50.0-60.0 per cent of the quantity of solid waste which is deposited at
the Riverton City Landfill (Inter-American Development Bank, 2000). It is estimated that within
five to seven years this site will reach its maximum capacity (by 2014). This statistical
information was done in the year 2000 and it is now 2015, therefore the development of a new
metropolitan landfill is grossly over due. This new land fill should possess proper facilities for
collection, storage and disposal of hazardous waste and electronic waste (which includes
computer parts and car batteries).
Energy recovery from biomass could be explored and the organics from the waste stream can be
used for composting and production of organic fertilizer. Innovation in biogas production from
waste, such as the Biodigester created by the Scientific Research Council, is already being done
in Jamaica. Significant quantities of methane are also produced as a result of the high organic
8

content in the waste stream. Future waste management systems could explore collection and use
of this gas.
JAN Corporations serve to explore further technologies in Solid Waste management to aid in the
recycling process and to build a new incineration plant which implements proper disposal and
categorization of organic and hazardous material.

Calculation Basis:
Amount of land = 10,991 square kilometers
Population = 2.8 million
1.2 million tonnes of waste is generated across the island annually
69% of the waste produced in Jamaica is organic, that is, compostable
The typical amount as is produced by Municipal waste per ton is 2/3 MWh for electricity
0.828 Million tonnes of waste are organic
25cents per KWh of electricity
Cost of incinerator $58,000
Incinerator feed rate 25000kg/batch/6/day (customized)

Event Costs:
Cost for Management of Municipal Solid Wastes in Jamaica:
US$
1. Tour storage solid waste sites island wide

50,000

2. Sorting of waste materials

110,000

3. Work Plan Preparation

210,000

4. Regulatory Approval

12,000

5. Emission Testing

70,000

6. Operator training

508,000

7. Incineration process

900,000

8. Full-Scale Construction Design

9. Ash management

1,300,000
30,000

10. Transfer of Hazardous waste to incinerations site

420,000

11. Test hazardous waste generation daily

210,000

12. Energy cost annually

70,000

13. One year Monitoring

700,000

14. Test pollution level of hazardous waste in Air

Total Cost

175,000
$4,765,000

10

Opportunity Statement:
An opportunity exists to beautify the environment of Jamaica and producing other sources of
energy by implementing a management plan for the disposal of municipal solid waste.

Target Conditions/Selected Solution Summary:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Render permits from the NSWMA for investigation and development

Conduct a field study and particle analysis of the waste sheds
Design recycling units to be located on the site or in a near facility
Construct a diverse incineration facility
Implement a collection and re-routing system for organic waste
Hire skilled/ trained personal who are equipped with working at the developed facility
A weekly or monthly analysis report should be made to monitor productivity of the
facility.
.

Preliminary Project Milestone Schedule is as follows:

Implementation and Categorization (items 1-4 from event cost) Complete 6 weeks after ERFA
Approval
Engineering (items 5-7 from event cost) Complete 9 weeks after ERFA Approval.
Construction (items 8-10 from event cost) Complete 26 weeks after ERFA Approval.
Monitoring (items 11-14 from event cost) - Complete 2 years after ERFA Approval.

11

Assumption/Risk Summary:

1. The collection of solid waste will involve contact with toxic substances and other
contaminants that may pose a threat to the handlers, therefore, adequate protection
measures must be put in place before the commencement of waste clean-up projects that
would be a part of the over.
2. The pollutants which are created, even if trapped, reside in filters and ash, which need
special landfills for disposal. In case energy recovery is attempted, it requires heat
exchangers which operate at temperatures which maximize dioxin production. If the
gases are quenched, it goes against energy recovery. Such projects disperse incinerator
ash throughout the environment which subsequently enters our food chain.
3. The impact of financial or budgetary constraints developed during the course of the
project which may be the result of costly maintenance of the newly implemented waste
treatment facilities.
4. This project can lead to higher incidences of fire outbreak if not handled effectively.

Performance Objectives

12

Cash Flow
Year
1
2
3
4

Investment (outflow)
4,765,000

Project Objectives

Add to the Aesthetic beauty of the Environment.

Improve planning and management of solid and hazardous wastes for Jamaica.
Create a long term beneficial solution to solid waste management
Create an alternate renewable source of energy

Investment Schedule

Category

Before
2015

2015

2016

2017

Beyond

Total

13

1. Capital

3,000,000

3,000,000

2. Project expenses

1,765,000

1,765,000

4,765,000

4,765,000

3. Investments in
Acquisition
4. Other (e.g.,
insurance, claim,
hold back, etc.)
Total to Authorized
5. Subsequent Spare
Parts
6. Working Capital
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Stores Material
Accounts Payable
Other
Total working
Capital
7. Related Expenses
Training
Internal Software
Start up
Other
Total related
expenses
Total Incremental

3,000,000

3,000,000
14

Capital Expenses
8. Capital employed
in all other Existing
facilities to Utilized
Total Full capital
Expense

4,765,000

4,765,000

Solution Analysis
Recommended Solution:
Design and implement new incineration technology,
Cost: US$ 4,765,000
composting and reuse techniques/strategies for each of
the already existing waste-sheds in the island.
Brief Scope:
The scope of the selected solution is as follows:
1. Render permits from the NSWMA for investigation and development of functioning
Waste-sheds
2. Conduct a field study and particle analysis of the waste sheds and record any ongoing
problems pertaining to the facility.
3. Design recycling units to be located on the site or in a near facility. For example:
recycling of plastics, paper and electronic parts.
4. Construct a diverse incineration facility that can control the generation of dioxins.
5. Implement a collection and re-routing system for organic waste to be transported to
facilities to be reused as Biomass.
6. Hire trained personnel for each facility located at the dump
7. Install start up program.
8. Establish a two-year monitoring program.
Advantages:
1. Any existing problems occurring from the previous management system for the wastesheds will be highlighted and mitigated from facility investigations.
2. An extensive field study will give a general categorization of the kinds of waste being
deposited to the facility.
3. Recycling and re-use will give rise to new products to be marketed and to gain profit
from
4. Incinerators reduce the solid mass of the original waste by 8085% therefore
15

minimizing the volume of solid waste to be disposed of on a daily basis.

5. Can be use to generate income from generation of electricity and heat
Disadvantages:
1) High start up cost
2) Can cause air pollution
3) Project does not target the disposal of other types of waste..
Specify why it has been selected:
This option will lead to long term health and environmental benefits for the island of Jamaica.

Option 2:
Construct a new land-fill for each parish especially for Cost: US$ 3,500,000
the Kingston metropolitan Area. Riverton alone takes
50% of the entire islands waste. This is done to meet
the demands of Solid waste generated and will
implement a proper disposal system for organic and
hazardous waste material.
Brief Scope:
1. Analyze and estimate the projected size of landfill based on the volume of solid waste
which is being withheld by the already existing waste shed in each parish.
2. A building plan should be submitted to each parish council, for the approval of the
desired construction inquisition.
3. The engineered land fill should possess a treatment facility division for each kind of
hazardous and organic material.
4. The institutions involved with hazardous waste should be educated and supplied with
the disposal material to avoid contamination.
5. Set up security restrictions for each dump so as to regulate the inflow of citizens from
the surrounding areas of the dump.
6. Pilot Testing of all sites.
7. Initiate Full-scale start-up of all sites
8. Two year monitoring program.
Advantages:
1. Illegal disposal of hazardous waste throughout the island will be reduced
2. Contributes to the overall health of the society

16

3. Saves landfill space.

4. Saves energy.
5. Reduces air and water pollution risks.
6. Conserves natural resources.
7. Reduces landfill disposal fees.
Disadvantages:
1. Security measures may be hard to put in place due to the size of the land-fill
2. Standardized architectural and engineering designs may still have to be adjusted to fit
each geographical location.
Option 3:
Do nothing

Cost: 0US$

Brief Scope:
1. Do nothing to improve the disposal of hazardous wastes in Jamaica.
Advantages:
1. No capital Cost
Disadvantages:
1. An increase in the negative effects of untreated and improperly disposed waste on the
environment and on the health and wellbeing of the population.
2. May result in other fire at the Riverton dump site

17

Environmental Health and Safety

Environmental Health and Safety:
This project is responsible for addressing the hazardous waste management of the entire island of
Jamaica. With the presence of hazardous wastes in our environment, this can lead to serious
health issues for the entire population. Incineration of municipal solid waste will show a
significant reduction in solid and hazardous wastes. This will improve our state of development.
Thus the implementation of this project is not expected to add any new safety, health or
environmental impact, but rather to reduce the threats of municipal solid waste.
An ecological planning model will be followed to sensitize the entire island and the relevant
personnel directly and indirectly involved with this project.

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Attachments

Municipal solid waste inceneration

http://web.mit.edu/urbanupgrading/urbanenvironment/resources/references/pdfs/DecisionMakers
.pdf

19

Hazardous Waste Management in Jamaica

References
Evaluation of Storage and Disposal Costs for Conditioned Radioactive Waste in Several
European Countries, Report EUR 12871 EN, Commission of the European Communities:
Nuclear Science and Technology.
A. Jouan, N. Jacquet-Francillon, M. Ger and L. Chaudon, Economic and Technical
Advantages of High-Temperature Processes in High-Level Radioactive Waste Management,
2nd International Conference on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management, Las Vegas,
April 28-May 3,1991.
A. Jouan, H. Frotscher, B. Ganser, N. Jacquet-Francillon, C. Kertesz and M. Klein, New
Volume-Reduction Conditioning Options for Solid Alpha-Bearing Waste, 3rd European
Community Conference on Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal: Luxembourg,
Sept 17-21,1990.

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