Dear Editor,
The dump is still burning, the old one and especially the new one across from it. This toxic smoke has affected many people on the island with many going to the Emergency Room for breathing problems. What long-term effect does this have on our children? Cancer, asthma, etc.? Does anyone realise what is burning? Pressure-treated wood – older pressure-treated wood is treated with arsenic. Tires when burnt emit too many toxins to list, plastics, paint. The long-term medical cost of this will be astronomical.The smoke was so bad one night that people were choking and had to leave a restaurant I was at. I too had to leave. At my residence I cannot sit out on many nights because of the smell and effect on my sinuses.
This must be really good for tourism. Would you as a tourist come back to an island of burning trash that makes you sick?
Many campaign speakers spoke of the problem; to date I have seen little done. It seems like everything gets put off to the distant future. We need action now to save our children, our tourism and our island.
Some solutions are: recycle and separate glass, plastic, tires, metal and wood. This is easier than you think. It only requires people caring and making an effort to do so. Glass can be ground by a special machine to make beach sand or used to cover the landfill. Plastic has many ways to be recycled to make useful products such as trash cans, flower pots, etc. Tires can be ground to reduce volume; metal is recyclable; wood pallets, tree branches, stumps can be made into mulch by purchasing a tub grinder with magnet that even removes nails. This mulch is great for landscaping. Grass clippings, leaves, etc. can be composted to make rich soil. Put a refundable deposit on all bottles and cans. This would help keep them out of the trash and off roadsides.
There is much to be done, so let’s do it.
How much could it possibly cost to have recycling bins like the French side? Much cheaper than paying someone to separate it elsewhere and much healthier than burning it.
Name withheld at author’s request.
