The Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility in Bermuda: A Prime Example of the Special Needs Experienced in Running a Mass Burn Facility in an Isolated Location

摘要

Mass burn facilities are becoming very common throughout the world as a method for dealing with the increasing refuse generation. When plants are operated in a small isolated location like the islands of Bermuda, they are faced with several obstacles that are not found in other plants. These problems can stem from several sources such as the higher waste per capita levels, limited land mass, isolated location, the small population, unique cultural influences, increased environmental and governmental pressures stemming from the tourist trade and the extreme situations such as the lack of properly educated and trained staff, limited supply chain channels, and hurricanes. Historically, most areas have relied on landfill to dispose of their waste. This is not a viable option in a location like Bermuda due to the lack of available land and the dense population. The growth of the population on these islands has also lead to a steady increase in the generation of waste. The solution to this situation requires a diverse action plan which includes recycling, composting, shipping of hazardous wastes overseas and the use of a mass burn facility. Operating a plant of this type faces several hurdles in the availability of trained technical staff. This requires the institution of various technical training programmes to better utilize the local work force. In addition, a goal of the Government of Bermuda is to reduce the reliance on importing contract (foreign) workers to fill the many positions that are needed to operate a plant of this type. Further hurdles are faced in the maintenance of this type of facility as it requires calculated planning to keep up programmes of preventative maintenance instead of a reactive maintenance scheme. The primary problems in this area are that all parts and most specialty services must be imported from overseas suppliers, contractors and manufacturers. This can lead to substantial delays in shipping and completion of projects which can cause critical problems in the waste handling systems. To circumvent this, several strategies are utilized such as: extensive stockpiling, standardization of parts and the development of local suppliers and service providers. The next area that must always be considered is the financial aspect of the plant. Revenues can be generated through ash usage, power sales and various tipping fees. These revenues are necessary to defray the costs such as salaries and utilities, parts and services, shipping and duties. These costs are often elevated in an isolated location such as Bermuda and can thus increase the importance of strategic planning. A plant of this type cannot be left stagnant. If it is going to continue to handle the rising refuse levels, then plans must be made for the future. These include such areas as: improving cost savings, advancing technology, refinement of procedures and re-examination of revenues and charges. Most importantly, it is essential to plan for the inevitable expansion that will become necessary; and to examine the increased costs involved as well as the additional opportunities for revenue.