The St. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA) was established in 1996 under Act No. 20 of 1996 (repealed and replaced by the Waste Management Act No 8 of 2004). The Authority was established with the goal of improving existing standards of public health and environmental quality through more efficient waste management.

Mission Statement

The mission statement of the SLSWMA is “to enhance St. Lucia’s environmental integrity and the health of her people through the provision and management of an integrated system of public education and awareness and for the collection, treatment, recycling and disposal of solid and hazardous waste.

The mandate of the SLSWMA is to:

- Manage, regulate and treat waste either alone or in conjunction with private companies or organizations

- Establish, maintain, improve and regulate the use of sanitary landfills and facilities, in accordance with established scientific principles and practices

- Establish and manage facilities for the collection and treatment of hazardous waste

- Establish and maintain transfer stations

- Establish and promote a resource recovery system

- Oversee scheduling, safety and maintenance issues associated with solid waste management

- Promote and oversee public education related to solid waste management in collaboration with the relevant Ministries; and

-Develop a network to receive, monitor and respond to public complaints

Operations

The operations department is headed by the operations manager with responsibility for developing operational plans and procedures pertaining to solid and hazardous waste management, oversees works contracted by the Authority, works executed directly by employees of the Operations Department, oversees the operational aspects of the collection service and landfills.
 

Waste Collection

The Authority is responsible for the collection of solid waste from households, and Government establishments, e.g. schools, hospitals, health centres, prisons, government offices. In this regard a minimum of a twice weekly waste collection service is provided throughout the island. In addition,

a monthly bulky waste collection service is provided to every community. All waste collection services are privatized.

Disposal Services:

The Authority operates two solid waste management facilities namely Deglos Sanitary Landfill which serves the north of the island and the Vieux-Fort Solid Waste Management Facility which serves the south of the island.

Categories of waste accepted include industrial waste, green waste, commercial waste, hazardous health care waste and derelict vehicles. Others categories of waste also referred to as special wastes accepted include asbestos, fiberglass, ship waste, condemned food, confidential documents, pharmaceuticals, construction and demolition. For the disposal of special waste, a disposal fee as well as special arrangements is required prior to the disposal of the above items. See schedule of rates for special disposal .

Deglos Sanitary Landfill

The Deglos Sanitary Landfill located in the north of the island, south-east of the capital Castries is the island’s only sanitary landfill and occupies approximately 9 hectares (22 acres). The landfill which was constructed with a clay liner and a leachate collection and treatment system serves the north of the island. Prior to the operation of the landfill, waste in the north of the island was deposited at an open dump site in Ciceron. This dump site was transformed by the SLSWMA to manage solid waste with due regards for the environment. This transformation resulted in the SLSWMA gaining recognition by UNEP as a model Low-Tech Disposal Site. the Ciceron Solid Waste Disposal Site ceased operation in March 2003 when the Deglos Landfill became operational. 

The Landfill has a capacity to receive waste for approximately 20 years and accepts the following waste streams: Industrial waste, residential waste, institutional waste, commercial waste, green waste, construction and demolition waste. 

The Deglos Sanitary Landfill facility places much emphasis on reducing environmental impacts which may arise as a result of managing solid waste. The landfill is equipped with a wheelwash, weighbridges, maintenance building, material recovery building, waste oil storage facilities, tyre shredder and wood chipper. The landfill is also home to a biomedical waste treatment facility which receives and treats infectious waste from health care facilities. 

• Burning of waste,
• Lack of compaction of waste,
• Non application of daily cover,
• Proliferation of offensive odours,
• Wind blown litter, and
• Uncontrolled scavenging.

• Application of daily cover
• Introduction of cellular filling
• All weather road
• Prohibition of burning
• Installation of an entrance gate
• Construction of a site office
• Provision of amenities e.g. electricity, water and telephone
• Introduction of bi-annual medical check-up and provision of personal protective equipment for staff
• Site service area which house a weighbridge and scale house, maintenance building and inspection bay
• Recycle area which houses a material recovery facility and tyre shredder
• Bulk fuel storage tank
• Wood chipper