Noni GeorgesIslands VIIINovember 2004

Case Study of Tortola, Case Study of Tortola,

British Virgin Islands (BVI)British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Exploring Solid-Waste Exploring Solid-Waste as an Indicator of Sustainability in as an Indicator of Sustainability in

Small Island Developing States (SIDS)Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

OutlineOutline

Background ConceptsBackground ConceptsIsland SustainabilityIsland SustainabilityMeasuring SustainabilityMeasuring SustainabilityWaste ManagementWaste Management

Case Study: Case Study: Study AreaStudy AreaSolid Waste TrendsSolid Waste TrendsImplicationsImplications

ConclusionConclusion

Conceptual DiagramConceptual Diagram

IslandSustainability

WasteManagement

MeasuringSustainability

Island SustainabilityIsland Sustainability

h

Island SystemIsland System

System

Boundary

Environment

OpenSystem

Matter Energy

Matter Energy

Measuring ProgressMeasuring Progress

Commitments to:Commitments to:

- Agenda 21 Agenda 21

- Barbados Program of Barbados Program of ActionAction

- St. Georges DeclarationSt. Georges Declaration

ProblemProblem

Caribbean SIDS have not yet begun to Caribbean SIDS have not yet begun to address assessing physical progress address assessing physical progress towards sustainable developmenttowards sustainable development

Silence of SIDSSilence of SIDS

UnderstandableUnderstandable

Lack research Lack research capabilitiescapabilities

Focus on assessing Focus on assessing vulnerabilitiesvulnerabilities

RegrettableRegrettable

Obligated to assess Obligated to assess progressprogress

Excellent candidates Excellent candidates for sustainable for sustainable development development researchresearch

Waste ManagementWaste Management

Extraction

Processing Production

Consumption

Disposal

DefinitionDefinition

Materials that we Materials that we

can not or or do not use use

Economic ProcessEconomic Process

Depends on high quality material inputsDepends on high quality material inputs

Converts high quality materials into low Converts high quality materials into low quality wastesquality wastes

Environment is the source of inputs and Environment is the source of inputs and sink for wastessink for wastes

Survival of SocietySurvival of Society

Continuation of the economic processContinuation of the economic process

QuestionQuestion

II

Solid Waste Management Solid Waste Management SystemSystem

StorageStorage

CollectionCollection

TreatmentTreatment

Trends 1995 - 2000Trends 1995 - 2000

LimitationsLimitations

AccuracyAccuracyLack of public co-operationLack of public co-operationWeigh scale maintenance Weigh scale maintenance Inconsistent record keepingInconsistent record keeping

UtilityUtilityOutdated composition studyOutdated composition studyOrigin of wastes unknownOrigin of wastes unknown

Growth in Waste QuantitiesGrowth in Waste Quantities

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

(to

ns

)

Population GrowthPopulation GrowthVisitor ContributionVisitor ContributionLocal ContributionLocal Contribution

Economic GrowthEconomic GrowthGDPGDPConsumptionConsumption

Visitor ContributionVisitor Contribution

Overnight visitor arrivals Overnight visitor arrivals 365,000 - 474,000365,000 - 474,000

Effective visitor population Effective visitor population (number of visitors x average length of stay / 365)(number of visitors x average length of stay / 365) 4,400 - 8,0004,400 - 8,000

Waste Generation EstimatesWaste Generation Estimates Land-based visitors (3.0 kg/day)Land-based visitors (3.0 kg/day) Water-based visitors (1.6 kg/day)Water-based visitors (1.6 kg/day) Cruise visitors (1.77 kg/day)Cruise visitors (1.77 kg/day)

90 Table 1: Estimated Visitor Contribution to Tortola Waste Stream

Daily Estimated Contribution (tons/day) Year 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Comments

Hotel 4.1 4.5 5.3 4.0 4.9 4.5

3.0 kg/ person/day

Charter Boat 3.2 3.4 2.8 3.3 5.6 5.6

1.6 kg/ person/day

Rented Accommodation 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

3.0 kg/ person/day

Own/Friends Accommodation 2.9 4.2 6.0 8.9 6.4 9.1

3.0 kg/ person/day

Daily Overnight Visitor Contribution to BVI Waste Stream

10.3 12.2 14.2 16.4 17.2 19.5 -

Daily Overnight Visitor Contribution to Tortola's Waste

Stream 8.3 9.8 11.4 13.1 13.7 15.6

Assume 80% of all visitors based

in Tortola facilities (Walker

1996) Annual Estimated Contribution (tons per year)

Annual Overnight Visitor Contribution to Tortola's Waste Stream

3017.1 3572.8 4159.0 4780.3 5009.3 5685.6 -

Annual Cruise-Ship Contribution to Tortola Waste Stream

216.0 282.5 185.6 186.1 319.9 271.7

1.77 kg/ person/day,

landing time 1 day

Total Estimated Annual Overnight Visitor Contribution

(tons per year) 3,233 3,855 4,344 4,966 5,329 5,957 -

Local ContributionLocal Contribution

Total Solid Waste – Visitor ContributionTotal Solid Waste – Visitor Contribution

Population ScenariosPopulation Scenarios2%2%3.8%3.8%

Table 1: Estimated Local MSW Generation Rates for Tortola

Year 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Total municipal solid waste (tons/year) (from Table 6)

8,818 9,254 12,600 16,296 18,698 21,260

Total visitor contribution to waste stream (tons/year) (from Table 13)

3,233.1 3,855.3 4,344.6 4,966.4 5,329.2 5,957.3

Visitor contribution as a % of waste 37% 42% 34% 30% 29% 28%

Local contribution (tons/year)

5,585 5,399 8,255 11,330 13,369 15,303

Local average daily solid waste (tons/day)

15.3 14.8 22.6 31.0 36.6 41.9

Local waste generation (2% popln. growth rate) (kg/person/day)

1.1 1.0 1.6 2.1 2.4 2.7

Local waste generation (3.8% popln. growth rate) (kg/person/day)

1.0 1.0 1.4 1.9 2.1 2.3

*Local MSW refers to total contributions of residential, commercial, and institutional

sectors.

Local & Visitor Waste ContributionLocal & Visitor Waste Contribution

15.7 15.2

23.6

31.937.3

42.4

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

1 2 3 4 5 6

tourist

local

1995 200019981996 1997 1999

Ton

s pe

r da

y

Economic GrowthEconomic Growth

GDP $315 - $680 millionGDP $315 - $680 million

GDP / capita $18,900 - $33,700GDP / capita $18,900 - $33,700

Waste per unit GDPWaste per unit GDP

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

(to

ns/

$m

illi

on

)

-

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Total

$ m

illio

n

Import of Goods Export of Goods

Imports vs. ExportsImports vs. Exports

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Tortola Barbados St. Vincent&

Grenadines

St. Lucia Grenada St. Kitts &Nevis

Antigua &Barbuda

Dominica

(ton

s/k

m2)

Waste vs. SizeWaste vs. Size

DiscussionDiscussion

Limited waste system capacityLimited waste system capacity

StorageStorage CollectionCollection TreatmentTreatment DisposalDisposal

Assimilation CapacityAssimilation Capacity

SoilSoil Air Air WaterWater

Material Build-up in Island SystemMaterial Build-up in Island System

ECONOMIC PROCESSING

Imports $1,019 million

Exports $137 million

DPO(86,926 t solid waste)

Domestic Environment

Rest of the world

Increased Waste per Economic Increased Waste per Economic OutputOutput

UnsustainableUnsustainable

Tourism Carrying CapacityTourism Carrying Capacity

==

F (Total waste capacity - Local needs)F (Total waste capacity - Local needs)

15.7 15.2

23.6

31.937.3

42.4

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

1 2 3 4 5 6

tourist

local

EconomicEconomic

Capacity to afford sound waste Capacity to afford sound waste management systemmanagement system$1.5 million$1.5 millionNo tipping feesNo tipping feesNo user feesNo user feesNo recycling/deposit-refund schemeNo recycling/deposit-refund scheme

SocialSocial

Lack of waste management programmes, Lack of waste management programmes, policy, laws, regulations indicates lack of policy, laws, regulations indicates lack of recognition that waste management recognition that waste management failures need to be addressedfailures need to be addressed

Contradicts National Policy Goal for Contradicts National Policy Goal for Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Conclusion and Conclusion and RecommendationsRecommendations

ConclusionsConclusions

1. 1. Solid-waste reflects environmental, social, Solid-waste reflects environmental, social, and economic aspects of Tortola’s and economic aspects of Tortola’s sustainabilitysustainability

Feasible indicator of sustainability and should Feasible indicator of sustainability and should be utilized as suchbe utilized as such

ConclusionsConclusions

2. 2. Indicators on material inputs to the Indicators on material inputs to the economy are required to provide a true economy are required to provide a true picture of the economy’s physical picture of the economy’s physical dimensionsdimensions

This information not yet collected by the BVI This information not yet collected by the BVI GovernmentGovernment

ConclusionsConclusions

3. 3. Value of waste as a resource has not Value of waste as a resource has not been recognizedbeen recognized

“Earth, like Nauru [island] is finite. An island in the ocean of space.”(McDaniel and Gowdy, “Paradise for Sale”)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship ProgrammeFellowship Programme

BVI Government BVI Government Ministry Natural Resources & LabourMinistry Natural Resources & Labour Ministry Health & WelfareMinistry Health & Welfare BVI Tourist BoardBVI Tourist Board Chief Minister’s OfficeChief Minister’s Office

SRES faculty, staff, and colleaguesSRES faculty, staff, and colleagues Committee membersCommittee members Family, friends and BVI communityFamily, friends and BVI community

RecommendationsRecommendations

1. 1. Physical indicators on solid-waste should Physical indicators on solid-waste should be included in national statisticsbe included in national statistics

Quantity of waste receivedQuantity of waste receivedQuantity of waste incineratedQuantity of waste incineratedVolume of waste/ash for disposalVolume of waste/ash for disposalComposition of waste streamComposition of waste stream

RecommendationsRecommendations

2. 2. Physical indicators on material inputs to Physical indicators on material inputs to the economy should be included in the economy should be included in national statisticsnational statistics

Direct material inputDirect material inputDomestic inputDomestic input ImportsImports

RecommendationsRecommendations

3. 3. Waste management failures must be Waste management failures must be addressedaddressed

A national waste policy is neededA national waste policy is neededPublic education a matter of priorityPublic education a matter of priority

Further StudyFurther Study

Waste composition studyWaste composition studyWaste generation studiesWaste generation studiesSectoral waste studiesSectoral waste studiesMaterial flow analyses (e.g. pallets, Material flow analyses (e.g. pallets,

bottles, tyres)bottles, tyres)Direct material inputDirect material inputMaterial flow accountsMaterial flow accounts

84

Table 1: Visitor Arrivals in BVI 1995 - 2000 (Source: DPU 2001)

Year1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Total Visitor Arrivals365,340 412,032 365,668 392,290 484,056 474,185

% Change in Total Visitor Arrivals11% 13% -11% 7% 23% -2%

Air Arrivals 104,319 107,612 107,768 127,624 131,745 141,751Boat Arrivals 138,967 144,820 153,036 159,524 171,597 178,949Cruise ship Passengers 122,054 159,600 104,864 105,142 180,714 153,485

Table 2: Visitor Distribution by Type of Accommodation (Source: DPU 2001)

Year1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Average1995 -2000

Overnight Visitors219,510 243,683 244,318 279,097 285,858 303,565 -

Hotel68,536 72,624 77,045 57,860 63,180 55,798 26%

Charter Boat101,360 101,288 76,147 89,951 136,744 131,076 40%

Rented Accommodation2,091 2,282 2,442 1,705 3,125 2,837 1%

Own/FriendsAccommodation

47,523 67,489 88,684 129,581 82,809 113,855 33%

Average Length of Stay(nights)

7.3 7.6 8.3 8.4 9.4 9.8 8.5

Table 1: Effective Annual Contribution of Overnight Visitors to Tortola'sPopulation

Year 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Averagegrowth1995 -2000

Total Overnight Visitors 4,390 5,060 5,556 6,423 7,362 8,12813%

Hotel 1,371 1,508 1,752 1,332 1,627 1,494 -Charter Boat 2,027 2,103 1,732 2,070 3,522 3,510 -Rented Accommodation 42 47 56 39 80 76 -Own/FriendsAccommodation

950 1,401 2,017 2,982 2,133 3,049 -