Government To Repair Pockwood Pond Incinerator
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is advancing plans to repair the damaged incinerator at Pockwood Pond while preparing to procure a new 50-tonne unit. Health Minister Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley highlighted that restoring the facility will relieve mounting pressure on the Territory's constrained waste disposal site. The dual approach aims to provide both immediate relief and long-term operational redundancy.
The Government of the Virgin Islands is advancing a dual-track strategy to address the ongoing waste management crisis at Pockwood Pond by rehabilitating the damaged existing incinerator and initiating the procurement of a new facility. Speaking during a sitting of the House of Assembly, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O.
Wheatley identified the continued absence of a functional incinerator as one of the most critical public infrastructure challenges currently facing the Territory. The main incinerator at Pockwood Pond has been out of operation since February 2022, following an early morning fire that caused extensive structural and mechanical damage to the facility.
In the absence of thermal waste processing, the Department of Waste Management has been forced to rely heavily on burying municipal solid waste. Minister Wheatley acknowledged that this practice has placed immense pressure on an already severely constrained disposal site, escalating both operational difficulties and environmental risks for surrounding areas.
To address the immediate situation, the Ministry is moving forward with the rehabilitation of the existing unit. Minister Wheatley explained that repairing the current incinerator serves as a vital interim treatment option while establishing necessary redundancy within the Territory's broader waste management network.
Alongside the repair efforts, preparatory work is actively progressing for the procurement of an additional, modern incinerator. The proposed new unit is expected to have an operating capacity of approximately 50 tonnes per day, which would significantly increase the Territory's daily waste handling capacity and support sustainable solid waste management.
Waste disposal at Pockwood Pond has remained a pressing concern for residents across Tortola and the wider British Virgin Islands. Officials emphasize that restoring incineration capabilities, alongside long-term waste reduction strategies, remains crucial for safeguarding public health, protecting local ecosystems, and building a more resilient infrastructure framework.
Primary source: VINO