French companies accused of using
Dutch-side landfill to evade charges
~ Buncamper asks for proof ~
MARIGOT--Manager of the eco-waste facility in French Cul-de-Sac Jean-Pierre Tey claims many French-side trucks are depositing their materials at the landfill in Philipsburg where they do not have to pay any charges, and are effectively breaking the law.
The eco-waste facility has reported a significant drop in the number of French-side trucks depositing garbage at the site since recycling charges were introduced there by management company Société Verde in September.
The former Commune used to absorb the charges of managing the site. However, companies are now charged a recycling fee in line with new European laws, depending on the type of materials dropped off there
“They go very early in the morning, take off the French plate and put on a Dutch-side plate so they can enter,” claimed Tey, who added he had once been to the Dutch-side landfill to witness this clandestine activity. “We also believe some Dutch-side contractors will collect garbage from French-side companies and charge them a lesser fee than they would have to pay on the French side, and take their garbage to the landfill.”
To illustrate the point Tey noted 3,165.31 tons of materials (excluding domestic waste) had been deposited at the eco-waste facility in August. After the charges were introduced, only 1,241.10 tons were processed in September.
October figures looked better, up to 2,891.95 tons, but that was mostly attributed to green waste/vegetation from Hurricane Omar (1,539.20 tons), he pointed out.
Most of the around 12 specific categories of recyclable materials have seen significant drops in the tonnage processed since the charges were introduced, except for domestic waste where figures remain constant. This is because the Collectivité pays for domestic waste to be processed, he indicated.
Tey estimated a 25 per cent drop in the number of trucks coming to the eco-waste facility, although that figure was higher at the beginning of September. Or to look at it another way, the normal rate of 80 truck visits per day to the site has dropped to 50-60 visits per day.
While the practice has not seriously affected the operation of the Cul-de-Sac facility in either a practical or financial sense – in fact, it means less wear and tear on recycling equipment – Tey and his staff are concerned they are getting a bad reputation on the Dutch side as garbage mounts up there, above what might be considered normal deposits.
“The problem now is that you have an imbalance, more waste being deposited on the Dutch side than on the French side,” he said. “And we are aware that unauthorised dumping of sewage, construction materials, etc., into lagoons and other areas is also going on. And probably a little bribery here and there will get some trucks into the Dutch-side landfill with French plates.”
Tey said all French-side trucks coming into the eco-waste facility were recorded.
“We know who they are, the names and the companies. They used to come here twice a day, but now they have disappeared. I am sure they are going to the Dutch side. But there is not much I can do. I am not a policeman.”
However, Head of St. Maarten’s Public Works and Sanitation Department (ROB) Claudius Buncamper refuted Tey’s allegations.
“No French-side-plate trucks are allowed onto the landfill in Philipsburg, and there is no exception to that,” he said. “Now, if they put on Dutch-side plates it is extremely difficult for us to control. Why don’t they (eco-waste facility) provide us with some proof: i.e. licence numbers of the trucks?
“It is difficult to verify. We know for certain that two trucks were caught in the last month and a half at the border and were turned back to the French side. I won’t deny it can happen, but if the eco-facility is accusing us of facilitating this, it is absolute nonsense.”
Sources have also indicated a French-side contractor/truck has been seen collecting garbage in areas such as Dutch Quarter and Middle Region.
Responding to this Buncamper said: “This is a real garbage truck with French-side plates that we have rented, through an agreement with a hauler. But this is only temporary, until the proper truck arrives from St. Croix. We cannot pick up garbage in open trucks; otherwise, we are breaking the rules.”
Asked to comment on Tey’s allegations, St. Maarten Pride Foundation said in a statement: “If it’s true, this is a good example of why the two sides should work together on waste management, because if we continue to keep it separate there is always going to be an imbalance. As it is, our landfill is nearing its deadline and we are not hearing anything from Government about how quickly they are moving with a new waste management system.”
