The AirBurner, the much anticipated solution to end the burning of the landfill at Fort Bay arrived on Saba this week. The AirBurner is being supplied by a waste solutions company out of Aruba and is being financed by the Public Entity of Saba, solely, through its budget.
An AirBurner is similar to an incinerator however it does not require a constant supply of waste in order to be efficient. The technology uses a curtain of air to produce an intense heat that reduces the waste to ash. The immense heat produced as the fire box at its peak can reach temperatures of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt a soda can.
Commissioner Bruce Zagers (right) and Head of Planning Bureau, Robert Zagers in front of the air burner
Earlier this year Commissioner Bruce Zagers Head of Planning, Robert Zagers and Wim Hofman, Quartermaster of Environmental Affairs visited Aruba, where the technology is in use, to see the equipment being used firsthand. They were immediately impressed and were convinced that it was a viable solution to the problems being faced at the landfill. During a second trip he was also accompanied by Island Council Member Eviton Heyliger who was also able to witness operation of the machine.
Residents of St. Johns and the Bottom in particular, will be relieved as the acquisition means that the landfill will no longer be set alight to reduce the volume of waste there and control the pests that develop because of the accumulation of garbage. Previously refuse was burned in an open uncontrolled manner.
In the coming weeks the AirBurner will be installed at the landfill and operators from Aruba will be here to train personnel on the island how to operate it
Source: press release Saba GIS 2012-08-10 (15)
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