1. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENTBy
Selby DaBreo
OECS SOLID & SHIPPGENERATED WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
SYMPOSUM ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE OECS: PAST,PRESENT AND FUTURE
GRENADA GRAND BEACH RESORT
JUNE 4 – 6, 2003

2. History Service provided through departments of Health\Public Works
Lack financial autonomy
Substantial inefficiencies
Shortage of technical staff
Low service coverage 10% to 40%
High operational cost 0.7% - 2.6%GNP compared to 0.2% to 0.5% in high income countries
Waste discharged in open dumps

3. Open burning
Waste picking for recyclables
Animal scavenging
Environmental problems

4. Responsibility
Public cleanliness and safe disposal essential to public health and environmental protection
Public good
Government responsibility
Government not required provide service with its own staff,equipment or monies
Ensures service is provided,reliable,efficient and protects the environment
Shift of focus towards monitoring and enforcement

5. Private Sector involvement
Improve efficiency and lower cost
Greater attention to customer satisfaction
Flexible financing
Motivated by accountability, competition and contractual agreement
Better control of work force
Less restrictive by bureaucracy

6. Considerations before Private Sector Involvement
Cost recovery
Efficiency
Public accountability
Management
Finance
Economies of scale
Legislation
Institution
Cost

7. Method of Participation
Contracting
Concession
Franchise
Open competition

9. Population and Housing Census- 2001
Parish
No. of Households
Estimated Population
St.George
11176
37057
St.John’s
2804
8591
St.Mark’s
1271
3994
St.Patrick’s
3473
10674
St.Andrew’s
8043
24749
St.David’s
3351
11486
Carriacou and Petite Martinique
2226
6081
TOTAL
32344
102632

10. Policy Towards Private Involvement
Established
Legislative framework relatively quick

11. Private sector participation
OECS Project
Grenada Solid Waste Management Act 1995
Transfer of responsibility to GSWMA
Introduction of Levy
Reduced government involvement in provision of solid waste services

12. GSWMA’s approach Greater private sector participation
System inherited- dilapidated, poorly maintained vehicles
Urgent need for improve and extended collection service
customer satisfaction
Reduce impact on the environment

13. Negative Aspects of Transfer
Labour and social issues
Redundancy
Severance pay
Re-employment
User fee

14. Methodology Establishment of GSWMA Zoning of the country
Open competition for service contracts
Provision for the re-employment of workers
Aggressive public information\ education programme

15. Results Increased coverage 55% to 97%
Significant capital investment in collection vehicles, 400% increase
Customer acceptance
Cost recovery did not marginalized any sector of society
Efficiency attributed to motivation, accountability and competition

16. Private sector participation as possible opportunity not a panacea
Will be efficient and costly if there is reason
Reduce government involvement e.g pay role

17. Cost Recovery Basis for financial sustainability
Environmental Levy Act of 1997

18. Environmental Levy Persons, Goods or Services Persons Liable
Responsible for collection
households
occupier
Electricity company
vehicles
importer
Customs
White goods
Beverage containers
Tipping service
Owner\operator of business
GSWMA
Stay over visitors
visitor
Airport Authority
Marine visitors
Shipping agent
Ports Authority

19. Lessons from Grenada’s Approach
Need for proper management at operational stage
Competitive tendering
Educational and promotional programmes to facilitate the process
Cost recovery must be accompanied by reliability and efficiency of service to gain acceptance
Regional approach has aided the process

20. Negative encountered
- Reluctance of users to pay for service not implemented at inception
- Attitude of households towards contractors