This information is gleaned from a preliminary diagnostic study done on 13 municipal disposal sites by the Environment Ministry, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the University of Belgium. Field data is from 2001.
The dumps (there isn't a nicer word for what these are) studied were in La Romana (the two known as "La Luisa" & "Cumayasa")& SPM ("Bobadilla") in the East; Baní ("El Fundo"), Haina ("Los Desamparados") & SD ("Duquesa") in
the Central South; Bonao (Falconbridge), Constanza ("El Arenoso"), Jarabacoa ("La Ceniza"), La Vega ("Solo"), Moca & Santiago ("Rafey") in the Cibao, and Santiago Rodriguez ("Zamba") in the Northeast.
These range in size from just 96 sq.meters for "La Luisa" to 2.8 million sq. meters for "Duquesa."
83% are dumps "managed" (if you can call it that) by the muncipal authorities. Only two are run by private entities -- "Duquesa" in SD is now run by Diseño y Operaciones Ambientales S.A. (DOAMSA), and the dump in Bonao is run by Falconbridge Dominicana.
75% of these dumps are within 500 meters of a
surface water source, the worst cases being in Baní, Bonao, Moca (less than 50 m. from water's edge!) & Santiago.
Hmmm, what does this imply for risks to the water supply in key places of the DR?
1/3 of the dumps are within 1,500 meters of
inhabited places, the worst cases being in Haina, Moca, Santiago & SD. In the cases of Moca & Santiago, the dump "can be found practically within the city." For example "Duquesa" is only 500 m. from SD's city limits, and the barrio "Los Casabes" is within a kilometer from it.
67% of the dumps are right next to
agricultural & animal husbandry activities such as farms for plantains, yuca & yautia.
Think about that for a
second!
Although the diagnosis calls for further study of this question to be certain, it suggests the most worrisome risks of adverse dump influence on
aquafers are in La Romana & SPM, and suggests that those for La Vega, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez & SD are serious enough to consider not just closing these sites, but rather
moving the current dump contents to another, safer spot! The study also found possible underground water contamination concern for the dumps in Moca & Bonao.
As for dumps in
seismically risky areas, these were found in the cases of Moca, Santiago & Sabaneta.
In all but the case of "La Luisa" there were found to be very bad "smell emissions." (LOL) In 67% there were smoke & gaseous emissions. In the cases of "Duquesa" and "Rafey" serious soil contamination was found. The dumps of Bonao, Jarabacoa & Moca were considered
unstable and at risk of spilling into surrounding areas.
All of the dumps receive all kinds of wastes, including hospital, industrial & toxic, even though legally they are not supposed to. Those in Haina & SPM even take in wastes from electrical plants, which can be very toxic.
75% don't even record information on volume, type & origin of the wastes they take in. Only SD & Santiago record the date, amount, producer & driver delivering the waste -- but not type.
None of the dumps take any real measures to prevent environmental contamination.
Covering & compacting is only practiced at dumps in Bonao, La Luisa, Moca & SD (Duquesa).
Burning is done often at the dumps of Baní, La Romana, La Vega, SPM & Santiago. [Interesting that they don't mention Duquesa, as I recall several significant burns of that dump during my four years living in SD, one that so covered large portions of the city that it even activated my daughter's asthma.]
67% of the dumps
are not enclosed, so people can come and go. [Only Duquesa in SD and the dump in Moca try to keep people out.] This happens often, as there are small armies of waste pickers (known in the DR as
"buzos") that try to find useful items among the trash, including materials (cardboard, glass Presidente bottles, etc.) that can be sold for cash. Studies show that 75% of these
buzos are women and children. [I should note that PAHO, WHO & UNICEF studies have repeatedly shown that such work is a substantial health risk for these people.]
Glass, aluminum, lead (very toxic) & copper are collected by pickers in all of the dumps. Plastics are collected in 9. Cardboard is collected in half.
Despite strong recommendations from PAHO/WHO against it,
animals -- principally cows, pigs, dogs & horses -- are allowed to graze in all of the dumps. In the case of the dump in Santiago Rodriguez, there is actually a pig farm next to the dump!
Good luck
) of the site and its equipment.
