Provo Dump Hotspots explained by EHD 

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, March 21, 2024 – Improper compacting, flammable garbage and other factors are being cited as contributing reasons to the constant dump fires by the Environmental Health Department.

In an explanatory video on March 15, three professionals, Crivanne Adams and Kenya Jones alongside Tiffany Murray engaged residents on the longtime issue.

“A hotspot refers to a localized area within a landfill where heat accumulates and poses potential risk— as waste breaks down it can generate heat which can build up in localized areas in landfills,” the women explained.

Further exacerbating this is the inclusion of flammable materials like batteries, and other chemical processes which can cause ignitions. Also blamed? Improper management.

“Poor waste management practices such as inadequate covering of landfill sites and improper compaction of waste can intensify hotspots. These conditions allow oxygen to penetrate deeper into the landfill,” the EHD team said.

Usually identified by a smoldering pile, the hotspots can cause flare ups of fires all across the landfill as, once ignited, they can spread underground aided by the presence of fuel and oxygen.

The burning also contributes to greenhouse gasses, releasing carbon monoxide which is deadly to human beings.

The 60-acre landfill has had issues with fires for years. The dump has repeatedly caught, or been set on fire sending foul smelling black smoke into the surrounding Wheeland community. It has culminated in legal action from one resident seeking damages for illnesses sustained.

A new contractor, TCI Green Ecological Corporation, has been hired under a $2.9 million contract to correct the issue. But both the government and TCI Green say it will take work over the next few months to fix.

For the immediate present, thermal imaging has been used to identify hotspots and now the EHD has commenced a cooldown project to eradicate them.

The explanation came after a major fire on March 10th which caused days of smoke to affect residents. The heavy smoke was described as an environmental disaster.

The EHD representatives accepted that the landfill was a major public concern and had been for years but maintained it was  the process of a revamp that would provide improvement. Chief in that change will be a National Waste Management Strategic Plan drafted by consultants who were hired with money granted to the country by the Caribbean Development Bank.