Antigua and Barbuda’s waste management system is under increasing strain, with the Cook’s Landfill receiving up to 1,500 tires a day , raising concerns about environmental risk and whether new technology is needed to process growing volumes of discarded rubber.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Friday that tire disposal has become a significant pressure point at the island’s only official landfill.
“Daily waste at the Cook’s Landfill includes some six tons of solid waste, some 30,000 gallons of sewage, and some 1,500 tires , which are continuously brought into the site,” Merchant said during the post-Cabinet press briefing.
Unlike traditional household refuse, tires can pose a heightened fire risk and are difficult to break down naturally. The large volume arriving each day has led Cabinet to consider alternative ways of managing the growing stockpile.
Merchant said officials are evaluating options for diverting tires from the Cook’s Landfill and putting them to use in construction.
“There have been discussions on the use of Burning Flames Highway technology , where tires can be used in road construction under conditions that are environmentally sound,” he said, referring to techniques that integrate shredded tire material into road pavement.
The government is also examining broader waste-to-energy systems that can reduce the burden on the landfill and provide usable power, though Merchant said such solutions are still under review.
“Waste-to-energy technologies are being looked at in terms of longer-term strategies to help address the volume of waste that we have,” Merchant said. “Cabinet continues to assess those options.”
Antigua and Barbuda, like many Caribbean islands with limited space, faces challenges in meeting the demands of modern waste management. The tire volumes — roughly equivalent to a standard passenger car’s set of rubber every 15 minutes in a 24-hour period — make clear the scale of the problem.
The government has already taken steps to improve overall landfill operations, including the acquisition of new heavy equipment to better manage waste intake and containment at Cook’s Landfill.
“We are continuing to invest in infrastructure, including bulldozers, excavators and compactors,” Merchant said. “But we also recognize that more sustainable solutions must be part of our long-term planning.”
As deliberations continue, residents and stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the island’s waste system can evolve to meet the demands of population growth and modern environmental standards.