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.