6 Month Progress Update. (Incomplete)

Its now 6 months into the assignment and I am back in New Zealand to take a well earned breather. We have achieved a fair bit since June as seen from this brief summary. Photos to be uploaded later.

- Regular bulldozing of waste at the town dump to keep things under control and organised onsite.

- New signage onsite explaining new opening hours, waste disposal costs, guidelines for site users. The previous signage indicated that the site was open 7 days a week when it was actually only open 5.5 days a week at most. We tightened up the opening hours so that the site would be open and manned at the specified times, thus reducing illegal dumping outside the site gate and surrounding area and reducing frustration of site users arriving at the site and it not being open.

- A total fire ban onsite (with exceptions for biosecurity and hospital waste). With a plan in place for a biosecurity quarantine waste incinerator to be installed early 2014 at an isolated part of the site.

- Cardboard recycling storage area built, with plans for a scrap metal storage area in 2014.

- An increase in waste disposal costs in October. This allowed us to begin to afford the various maintenance and upgrade works onsite and may help us with other waste management initiatives.

- The site gatekeeper has been trained up on what is acceptable behaviour for site users and has been given responsibility to use common sense when dealing with the public. He also roughly characterises the waste as it comes in and controls the takings, taking note of each load.

- A new site office has been built to replace the hovel that greeted site users when they previously arrvied onsite. An overall better impression is now made when entering the site which might encourage users to follow site guidelines on disposal of waste. If we look like we give a damn then maybe site users might follow our lead.

- A waste management account has been set up within the municipal council. 50% of income earned from the waste disposal site, business house waste collection fees, etc., will be lodged in the account and invested in waste management projects around Luganville. The remaining 50% will be used for general council expenses. The waste management account spending will be published in the newspaper on a quarterly basis to encourage transparency and discourage unapproved spending.

- A new waste management by-law was written and passed into law. This replaced the previous by-law which was badly written.

- We have started dealing with the illegal dumping problem around Luganville. We have put up signs threatening fines and we will increase litter warden patrols at dumping hotspots. There will be a major cleanup in one of the illegal dumping areas on the first weekend of December. Anyone caught dumping there after this will be dealt with.

- We are in the process of designing a new reduce, reuse, recycle, compost campaign in Luganvile. We have spent quite some time at this and the final idea is at the designers. The logo, catchphrase and graphic will form a central part of our communications campaign in 2014. Who woulda though, me and marketing and communications. Makes me shiver.

- We set up a Luganville Waste Management Facebook page to keep locals up to date on waste happenings around town.

- We kept the public up to date on changes they needed to know about through newspaper articles, radio campaigns, church announcements, flyers and posters.

*More to be added as I remember*

New Signage at Luganville Waste Disposal Site.

In June, at the beginning of the assignment, it was painfully apparent that there was a lack of information surrounding site rules and guidelines. It was a free for all onsite and it was messy.

It was decided that there was a definite need for some signage at the site as well as a new site office for the gatekeeper. The one sign at the site entrance was small, hidden behind a tree and not very visible.

Once we started designing signs for the dump it became pretty apparent that we were going to need more than one sign and we would have to prioritise our messages. In the end at least six signs were designed to be placed around the site as well as in known illegal dumping grounds around town.

The main messages that we wanted to put across to dump site users were that we were increasing the cost of disposal of waste, increasing the opening hours and most importantly discouraging people from burning waste onsite.

You would think that painting some signs and erecting them would be an easy project to see through. However, this project was to take a mammoth amount of time. Our deadline of October 1st to implement the new opening hours and waste charges came and went and only the site entrance signs detailing these changes were the only ones to be erected before that time. In hindsight we were grateful for such a small victory.

The signs themselves took at least 3 and a half months to paint and erect mainly due to funding issues and lack of manpower available. Quite frustrating if you think this probably should have taken no more than a month from start to finish in normal circumstances if we had done them ourselves. And that would be learning to weld as well!

The site office was built in a piecemeal basis and is still not complete as of December, still requiring a screen door, a lick of paint and a bit of weatherproofing on the roof. We will get there, eventually, but its a great example of how slowly things are done here and likely a very good indicator of how things will pan out for the future of the project.



Cardboard Recycling Area. Will start a Scrap Metal Recycling Area in the new year.



We may be winning the war against fire. Or maybe not.

Site Entrance.



Site Entrance, Bislama.

What did I say about burning? What dont you understand about this instruction?

Too much information?

One of our illegal dumping signs. Recording equipment hidden from view.

Ach, spot the typos.

 

We are employing.

Employment Opportunity.

Luganville Municipal Council wishes to recruit a qualified and experienced person for the following position.

Waste Management Officer – Luganville Municipal Council

PURPOSE:
To provide effective, efficient and safe waste management services to the residents of Luganville in order to protect human health and the environment from harm and provide environmental, social, economic and cultural benefits.

CRITERIA:
• Degree in Environmental/Physical Science or similar
• Minimum of 3-5 years experience in national or local government level or at a recognised private organisation
• Computer literate in email, Microsoft Office and other programmes
• Possess good verbal and written communication skills, fluent in Bislama and English/French

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Sanma Province and Luganville Municipality Waste Management Plan 2013-2016 will drive the work programme for this position. As such the Waste Management Officer will primarily be responsible for, but not limited to:

Waste Collection
• Ensuring an efficient and regular collection service is provided to both households and business houses
• Implementing the pre-paid garbage bag system
• Increasing the fleet of rubbish trucks
• Developing rubbish collection schedules
• Ensuring waste collection vehicles are fit for purpose

Recycling
• Enhancing and maintaining the existing recycling systems
• Implementing new recycling systems for other materials e.g. electrical waste, plastic and tin.
• Researching opportunities to recycle hazardous waste e.g. paint, used oil etc.
• Managing the Market House Compost Bin and
• Increasing composting awareness and holding workshops to encourage people to compost

Waste Disposal
• Oversee the improvement plan for the current waste disposal site, which will eventually be closed and made safe.
• Managing the process for selecting and constructing a new waste disposal site

Waste Education
• Increasing the public’s awareness and knowledge of waste management through relevant media including newspapers, radio, internet and churches.
• Developing targeted communications for residents, business houses, schools, churches and community groups

Ideal Candidate
• Highly motivated and able to work without supervision
• A willingness to learn and share knowledge.
• Ability to make decisions and to follow up and get things done.
• Ability to work and communicate with a wide range of people.
• Ability to work with limited resources and make the best of them.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
The Waste Management Officer will report directly to the Town Clerk

The Waste Management Officer will work closely with the Physical Planner at Sanma Province and will need to develop working relationships with the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, Port Vila Municipality, Rural Health as well as support agencies such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and volunteers currently working in waste management through New Zealand’s Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA).

For further information on the position and for a copy of the Sanma Province and Luganville Municipality Waste Management Plan 2013-2016, please contact the Municipality on Tel 5646476 or email Lmcehounit@gmail.com

Some photos to whet your whistle.

Sunset at Ratua Island




What the blazes is that?! Monstrous Vegetable!



Hot day at the market.



On their way to perform at the Lukaotem Gud Santo Festival.



A day trip out to the islands.

 

Watching the cargo come in.

Unity Park on the day of the Lukaoutem Gud Santo Festival



Tilly, the young pup.

Love this sign, makes me laugh every time. A proud sign.



World Food Day on 15th Oct. It would be very careless to be caught starving in Vanuatu. 

At the crossroad.

Santo Bislama News

What do you do for a living?

Scavenging in flip flops; Scavengers tear open plastic bags to see what is inside, leaving the waste open to the wind. 

I love the news - Part II

Getting the word out on waste.

Information for newspapers and radio for the latest Luganville waste management news.

Luganville Waste Management Public Information Updates                              

Luganville Municipal Council waste management team have been working on ways to improve waste management services in the town. These improvements are needed so that activities such as waste collection by the Municipal truck are more dependable and regular and the Waste Disposal Site operates in a way that is better than how it currently operates.

The current Municipal waste management activities are seen as important steps in the draft Sanma Province and Luganville Municipality Waste Management Plan 2013-2016. These schemes are among many projects that will take place over the next three years to help control waste in the province and in the town.

 

Update No. 1 – Cost of disposal of waste                                                              

The Municipality want to improve the operation of the Waste Disposal Site, so the cost of disposal of your waste there will increase from 1^st October 2013. Our new fees are;

Flatbed Truck – VT1,800
Pickup Truck – VT1,200
Small Load – VT600

The new gate fees will fund regular maintenance and upgrading of the Waste Disposal Site, faster repairs of the waste trucks and investigation of a new landfill site. When you pay your dump fees you help us keep Luganville clean and tidy through better waste collection services, and help the Municipality provide a better waste management service to the residents of Luganville.

You can reduce your waste disposal fees by reducing your waste taken to the waste disposal site. Compost your garden waste instead and use it for growing vegetables.

Update No. 2 - Opening hours

During the recent Consultation on the Waste Management Plan, public feedback said that the Waste Disposal Site needed longer opening hours. Because of this, the Waste Disposal Site will now have the following opening hours as of 1^st October 2013;

Monday to Saturday 7:30am to 4pm
Closed on Sunday.

The Municipality hopes that the extended opening hours will reduce the frequency of illegal dumping outside the gate of the waste disposal site. The Municipality will now be investigating any illegal dumping outside the gate. If those responsible for illegally dumping their rubbish are identified they may be served with a VT20,000 fine.

Update No. 3 - Burning of waste.

The Municipality has strongly advised all staff at the Waste Disposal Site to stop burning their waste there. The burning of waste is bad for the health of local residents, people visiting the site and the staff working at the site. Toxic smoke from the burning of waste can cause illnesses such as lung disease, diabetes and cancer. Stopping the burning of waste is one of the many ways the Municipality is improving the way the Waste Disposal Site is being managed. The Municipality asks the public for their help by not starting fires at the Waste Disposal Site also

Breathing in toxic smoke from burning waste can cause health problems.

Update No. 4 – Cardboard Recycling

The Businesses Houses in Luganville now receive a weekly kerbside cardboard collection service for the purpose of recycling the cardboard and reducing waste volume.  The Municipality have asked the Business Houses to put flattened and tied cardboard out for collection every Friday.  No rubbish is collected on this day by the waste collection truck. ‘This is the first kerbside recycling scheme of its kind in Vanuatu and we want to make it work,’ said Prosper Buletare, the physical planner with Sanma Province. The Municipality have a dedicated recycling storage area at the Waste Disposal Site where the cardboard will be stored before it is collected for recycling. 

The public can also bring their cardboard to the Waste Disposal Site and place it flattened in the recycling storage area.

 

Cardboard Recycling Storage Area.

 Update No. 5 – Other Waste Service Information

With the introduction of new gate fees at the Waste Disposal Site the Municipality intends to be more involved in the day to day management of the site. The gatekeeper will now direct you where to off load your rubbish, so that we use the space inside the pit effectively and efficiently.

The Municipality will also hire a bulldozer once a month to maintain the Waste Disposal Site and ensure it is kept tidy, accessible and safe.



Regular bulldozing of waste should keep the site organised.

When the waste collection truck is full of rubbish it will now use a tarpaulin or net to cover the truck. The Municipality asks that people cover their waste on the way to site also. This will reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up on the sides of our roads and makes Luganville look untidy and adds to our litter problem.

Andrew Ala, Environmental Health Officer at Luganville Municipality said ‘The Municipality hope that these new waste disposal activities will create a better managed, more efficient and effective Waste Disposal Site that we can all be proud of.  We ask for your support with this and that you follow these new guidelines so that together we can keep Luganville clean.’

Keep up to date on our waste activities with the Luganville Waste Management Facebook page.

Please don't like the facebook page if you are not living in Vanuautu, thanks. 

A small case of burning waste.

Well, we bulldoze the site and then the newly exposed waste catches fire in the sunny weather. I'm told it started on its own which is believable enough, but then I spot a truck out the back of the site dumping a load and investigate. Mysteriously enough, as I approach, the load catches fire as soon as it hits the ground away from the main blaze. Then the mad Irish man emerges from behind to catch them red handed at their malarkey for the third time in a week. Its like he hides in the ditch, waiting to leap!

Fire is a madly contagious thing round here and quelling the urge for pyromania will require something akin to invoking the spirit of Red Adair. OK, I exaggerate, but not much.

Ideas welcome on extinguishing blaze.

One problem is solved whilst another problem arises.

The cause was probably 50:50 accidental:deliberate.

This man is on holidays and definitely not scavenging - classic lawyerly chat.



Those aluminium cans aren't going to be much use to him if he continues this carry on.




Not much we can do here, maybe bulldoze a firebreak before the weekend.

Fire; it might reduce waste and increase space but it's an air quality nightmare.

Albinos in Luganville

One of the main things I’ve noticed about living in Luganville is the number of Albinos that you see here on a regular basis. I would say there must be around 20-30 Albinos that live locally and they’re a common sight around town. Coming from North West Ireland Albinos were a less common sight with only 1 or 2 that I ever remembered seeing growing up and since then I‘ve never really noticed that many, no more than a handful. As the years have passed I have had the vague impression from the news that Albinos were much more common amongst the black population compared to the white population in general.

Albinism is a congenital disorder characterised by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. It is suggested that it more commonly affects black people (1 in 4,000 chance of getting it) more than white people (1 in 17,000).

From a perspective of ignorance, it might be fair to say that being an Albino in Ireland is probably not as big a trial as being one in the tropics in the burning sun, but of course I wouldn’t know. Even in the tropics here in Vanuatu, and with the danger of the suns mean heat on the unprotected sufferers’ skin, the situation doesn’t seem as bad as living in some places in Africa with the condition.

Over the years I’ve noticed news stories from places like South Africa and Tanzania where being an Albino means that you live in fear for your life and not because of the suns scorching heat on your skin. According to reports, Albinos are regularly abducted and killed and their body parts harvested and sold to witchdoctors for the purposes of magic. In some places it is believed that Albinos are cursed and are shunned by society, or that to have an Albino body part in your possession is to bring good luck.

Luckily, here in Luganville, those extreme prejudices against Albinos do not seem to exist and those suffering are free to go about their business in the bright, sweltering heat. Their main problem lies here as they walk about in their shorts and t-shirts without any apparent protection for their skin or eyes. No sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and no long sleeves equate to serious skin problems scaled and pocked with cancerous lesions. You would wonder was anyone doing anything to educate them on maybe covering up a bit.

Did I say luckily? My white Irishman skin is like Sherman tank armour compared to this.

Some Reading on the topic

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/beyond-the-pale-how-albinos-cope-with-other-peoples-prejudices-26294011.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_people_with_albinism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20096144

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21675536

A Funny Conversation

I had a funny and interesting conversation the other day.

I went to the Land Department to pay for some mapping ordered and beg for a loan of a gps and maybe a measuring wheel. I arrived to discover the man I was having difficulty communicating with by email and phone only spoke Pidgin English and the French language. So I thought, nows the time to practise my school French. We had a 30 minute conversation in 3 different languages simultaneously; French, Bislama and English. Sometimes sentences had all 3 languages. It was forever teetering on the edge of complete misunderstanding and there were frequent puzzled stares, raised eyebrows and gesticulations from both sides. The result was he tried to sell me 3 more maps and aerials but I cried the poor mouth so he gave them to me for free.

That was an interesting mornings work. There was no need for coffee after that; the brain was fully awake.

These photos will tide you over until the next story.



Should of wore that white T Shirt.

No, not in trouble. Just an unusual way to get to site.

Accommodation in the jungle at Millennium Cave, Vunuspef.

There's a horror movie to be made about roosters. Will publish screenplay soon.

1kg jars of pesto! I'm applying for citizenship!

Man terrifies cruise ship tourists on Luganville Main Street.

I love the news.

Big winkles at the market. A bit sluggish in the heat so didn't buy.

 

Flying Foxes in the market. The butcher across the road laughed when I asked if she could skin and gut them.

Décor at the local Chinese Restaurant. Who is a good little shoe wearing Alsatian then? Woof! Me.

Sabre Rattling Mannequins at the Chinese Restaurant with Frightened Dog statue who has lost a shoe.

I think I need a guided tour of the market to figure out what everything is.

Firewood, baskets, bananas, taro?

Public Transport in Luganville.

Santo Golf Club. Might be time to take up golf again.

Nambawan Porter and other unintentional product placement. Hot evening, chocolate taste.


 

An article sent to the local newspapers

Luganville Municipality searches for a site to replace town dump

Luganville Municipality has begun the search for a new site for the Municipal dump. The dump, which started life as a quarry used by the Americans during the war, became the dumping ground for the town after the war. Nearly 70 years later it is running out of space.
 

The Municipal Council recently got a new staff member to help them with their Waste Management Plan. Sean Toland, a VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) Volunteer, joined as a Geotechnical Adviser for 6 months to give advice to the council on closing the town dump safely and locating a new site for a new engineered landfill to be opened.


Access road blocked to the town dump.

The Municipal dump closure and the opening of a new landfill are seen as an important step in the Sanma Province and Luganville Municipality Waste Management Plan 2013-2016. These schemes are among many projects that will take place over the next three years to help control waste in the province.

“The problem with open dumping of waste at the Municipal dump is that it is a human health hazard as well as a cause of environmental damage. It might be seen as the cheap option but in the long term it can be more expensive as it’s a breeding ground for flies, mosquitoes and rats which can spread disease to humans” said Mr. Toland. He said that the burning of waste onsite means that the air quality is lower in the area and can cause more health issues.



The Municipal dump entrance has recently been blocked by waste so that it has been piling up along the access road, making it hard to get access. A man with a bulldozer was called in to tidy the site. This took 3 days to clear and made more room in the pit. A plan was put in place for the site gatekeeper to use so that the dump can last until the new landfill is built. Now that the site is tidier the council is asking people not to dump waste at the site entrance by the main road and to follow the gatekeeper’s instructions.  



Clearing some space to the entrance of the dump

Andrew Ala, Environmental Health Officer at Luganville Municipality, responsible for managing this project says that “the new landfill will be built better than the current town dump. There will be better control of waste onsite by compacting and covering it regularly to stop pests feeding and breeding in it. No burning of waste will be allowed onsite and rainwater will be better controlled to reduce pollution offsite”. The Municipality hopes to have recycling and composting facilities once the new site is up and running.

Mr. Toland has been busy looking for a suitable site in the Luganville area for the new landfill and has been getting to see a lot of South Santo at the same time! He would like to find a site with some good local red soil because water cannot pass through that easily. The new landfill could either be built there or the council could use this clay at another site so that the new landfill can be lined (soil put on the bottom and on the sides of the landfill) to stop any dirty water going into the ground.

The Municipality plan to get everyone involved in the waste management process. Once a new site has been selected for landfill it is hoped that regular field trips can be arranged so that schoolchildren can learn about the move from open dumping to controlled landfilling and get involved with waste management, recycling and composting. As the new landfill is a long term project it should create jobs for locals during its lifetime.

A Facebook page has been created for people get involved with waste management - Search for Luganville Waste Management on Facebook.

Some breathing space for now, but more to do.

Vanuatu Daily Post: http://www.dailypost.vu/content/lack-space-forces-lmc-search-new-dumpsite