PES is investing in circular waste solutions, supported by an incidental subsidy from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Waste Management (IenW), beginning with the purchase and use of new machinery to shred and crush concrete waste and chip green waste, resulting in base material and landscaping material which can be used on island. This new machinery will allow for reuse of valuable materials, reducing waste, decreasing costs, and minimizing erosion and environmental degradation caused by the dumping of green waste and construction materials at the Hell’s Gate Gut site. The two new machines purchased are a Komplet Krokodile and Komplet K-JC 503. The Krokodile, in particular, is multipurpose and has been put to use in heavy construction projects around the world, including for hurricane recovery efforts on neighboring Caribbean islands.
Debut
The new crushing equipment will be put to use in January on its first major project: recycling over 500 cubic meters of concrete from the old gym, which is currently temporarily stored at Tent Bay. PES is committed to preventing any environmental impact on the site while the material is stored there. Once the concrete is recycled, the Tent Bay area will be fully cleaned and restored. The crushed concrete will be reused for future construction projects.
Training
PES invites contractors and interested parties to attend a training session on the use of these machines that will be held on January 12 and 13. The manufacturers will carry out training for the PES waste management employees as well as individuals who sign up to attend. The intent is to share knowledge on the use and maintenance of these machines within the community so that if, in the future, PES requires support from contractors to use these machines on a specific project, there will already be trained local capacity. Contractors and interested individuals are also encouraged to sign up if they would like to utilize some of the crushed concrete material from the gym project. Recipients will be responsible for facilitating the transportation of the crushed concrete.
If you are interested in the training, please fill out the registration form here https://bit.ly/48OV22O
Sustainability with Circular Solutions
Converting the concrete waste from the school gym project into reusable material contributes to a holistic sustainability approach for the new school housing project, which includes the new gym and a new technical school in St. Johns. The Public Entity received a Duurzaam Maatschappelijk Vastgoed (DUMAVA) subsidy from the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations to support these efforts. The new buildings are being designed with sustainability and low maintenance in mind, featuring natural ventilation, sun protection, green roofs, and terraces to minimize heat and environmental impact.
These efforts contribute to a broader goal to build Saba’s local capacity and enhance regional cooperation in developing smart, sustainable waste management strategies tailored to small island contexts, where resources and infrastructure are often limited. Circular economy models offer promising opportunities to repurpose waste materials, particularly for essential sectors like construction, thereby reducing environmental impact and building resilience for the future.
