~ Transforming the Trash-scape ~
By Lisa Davis-Burnett
Architectural Engineer Delano Richardson has a vision for St. Maarten. Where others see a garbage dump on Pond Island, he sees a park. Where others see an eyesore, he dreams of creating beauty. And where others see a health hazard, he knows how to turn that dilemma into an environmentally-friendly money-maker.
The former head of VROMI, Richardson is passionate about using his education and “outside the box” thinking to solve problems for his home island. One theme that has recurred over all these years is what to do about the landfill – a “trash-scape” that has grown to be a threat to public health as well as to our international image. The recent weeks-long fires at the dump demonstrate the most obvious threats, but there are many worrisome aspects to this practice. Richardson notes that the mountain of refuse is as tall as the top of the cruise ships and it’s full of things that can and are being recycled in most other places.
“This whole process of solid waste can be re-thought,” he says. “We have to deal with the facts, and the fact is that the landfill is there, it’s been growing since the 60s; we can’t change that, but there are approaches that can work to turn the negative into a positive.”
Energy Park
Richardson’s plans touch on several aspects that deserve serious discussion. First, the Energy Park which is mentioned – this he envisions as a multi-bay facility where trucks can dump refuse into large bins which would then be transported to the plasma converter – must be properly designed and maintained.
St. Maarten is not alone in facing what to do with solid wastes. Our ineffective disposal method is a problem that many communities face, and some have managed to correct.
Some have turned to high temperature incineration which reduces waste mass, but concentrates heavy metals and other toxins in the ash. This just trades one serious problem for another; what does one do with concentrated toxins?
Landfills in general add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, especially methane, which adds to our global climate change problems. In fact, the whole globe needs to find answers to the three problems; energy, climate change and waste disposal. These are three interconnected problems that might have a single solution.
A breakthrough green technology called High Temperature Thermal Plasma (HTTP), Richardson suggests, could be the answer to our dump situation. Utilized by Startech in Connecticut and international companies, such as Peat International and Waterleau, this technology can treat a wide range of waste materials, including household, industrial, even hazardous and medical wastes. Via the plasma stream, all the materials are instantly broken down into their basic chemical elements. Plasma is ionized gas, charged by electricity; it’s the essence of nature’s lightning bolt and the sun. The waste is converted to clean energy with no ash, no methane emissions and nothing left to landfill! Amazingly, no pre-sorting of trash is required.
The HTTP process creates a synthetic gas, or syngas, that is primarily Hydrogen with some Carbon Monoxide. This hydrogen is a clean fuel that can be used for electricity or transportation needs. The other by-product is solid residue that resembles volcanic glass, or obsidian, which is totally non-toxic and can be used for abrasives or road pavements.
Richardson notes that once this Energy Park is up and running, we could see a source of revenue: “That will address our waste and eventually we can accept solid waste from neighbouring islands or cruise ships for a fee, and use their trash to create our energy!”
Flamboyant Park
Richardson proposes to flatten the mountain of trash, creating a level surface which can then be planted with flowering trees. This will become a new community space: Flamboyant Park.
According to his proposal, “Once the Dump is reduced to between four and six metres [+/-20 feet] above water, we can begin the process of transforming the Dump into the new and improved FLAMBOYANT PARK. The park will be a composition of open space, green ranges and scores of Flamboyant trees with their vibrant red, yellow and orange flowers. Potentially, we could consider planting between five and ten thousand trees in this park.”
Performing Arts Centre
In this same park at the water’s edge, Richardson envisions new project, which he names Soualiga Performing Arts & Convention Centre (SPACC). This would be a grand and greatly needed theatre for shows and conferences.
With the many talented performers on the island, many have called for an upgraded version of the cultural community centre. This would be modern and large, provide a better venue than is available anywhere on the island at present, with state of the art lighting and sound systems, back stage areas for changing and rehearsing and plenty of comfortable seating.
Salt Walk
Also on the drawing board is a plan for a boardwalk around and over the historic salt pans on the eastern edges of the Great Salt Pond. This would be accented with plaques commemorating the forbearers of the island’s current population and the backbreaking work they did to collect salt for generations. Additionally, the Salt Walk would offer blinds for bird watchers and places for photography.
The Salt Walk would promote the island’s culture and natural beauty as additional tourism products, but also communicate much of the history and heritage to the younger generation of St. Maarteners.
Richardson’s vision of what can be is thought-provoking and inspiring. He hopes to provoke and inspire the population of the island and especially the decision-makers, who have the power to invest in a better future for us all. He concludes with this: “Most important, we as an island need to start doing something before this mountain of garbage assists in destroying our tourist product...and brings serious health issues to our children and families.”
Those interested in HTTP can find out more at www.plasma-wr.com
