27/02/2025
SWMCOL launches organic waste collection & valorisation pilot in T&T
Brought To You By : SWMCOL Loop News
February 24, 2025 12:21 PM ET
The Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL) in partnership with the Ministries of Planning and Development, Public Utilities and Rural Development and Local Government, as well as the San Fernando City Corporation and the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation, are pioneering the Organic Waste Curbside Collection and Valorisation Pilot Project.
This initiative, spanning from January 2024 to April 2025, is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and is designed to tackle the pressing challenges of organic waste management in Trinidad and Tobago – enhancing sustainable practices while promoting environmental stewardship among local communities.
According to SWMCOL’s Waste Characterization and Centroid Study Report, 2023, organic waste comprises approximately 32% of the total waste disposed in Trinidad, making it the single largest fragment of the waste stream.
As part of the pilot project, organic waste will be collected on designated days in participating communities of Greenvale and Trestrail (single units) within the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation and Old Pleasantville, Les Efforts East and West, and Olera Heights within the San Fernando City Corporation.
This initiative builds upon the success of SWMCOL’s Municipal Curbside Recycling Programme (MCRP), which has significantly advanced waste reduction and recycling efforts across the country. The organic waste collection project aims to develop a comprehensive source segregation plan specifically targeting organic materials generated at the household and school levels.
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The introduction of curbside organic waste collection is expected to yield multiple benefits, including a substantial reduction in the volume of waste landfilled and greenhouse gas emissions, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices through the repurposing of organic waste into a natural soil conditioner or compost. By diverting organic materials from landfills, SWMCOL is taking a significant step towards fostering a greener and more sustainable Trinidad and Tobago.
Collection services in Tunapuna/Piarco are now available in Greenvale (La Horquetta) and Trestrail (D’Abadie single units) and in San Fernando in the communities of Old Pleasantville, Les Efforts East and West, and Olera Heights on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
Residents are encouraged to participate actively in this initiative by placing their compostable materials in clear plastic bags by the curb or in the designated collection area on the designated collection days.
Acceptable items for composting include food and vegetable scraps, cooked food (excluding meats), coffee grounds, compostable packaging, newspapers and paper towels. Unacceptable items include meats and fish, metals, tin and aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastics, chemical containers and hazardous wastes (medical waste etc.).
By participating in this project, local communities will not only contribute to diverting organic materials from the landfills but will also gain valuable insights into the importance of source separation and recycling. SWMCOL aims to foster a culture of sustainability, and to encourage residents to adopt environmentally responsible practices that benefit both their communities and the environment.
For more information on the Organic Waste Curbside Collection and Valorisation Pilot Project please contact SWMCOL at telephone number 800 – SWMC (7962) or email address [email protected]
The Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL)
