Fideicomiso Do Sostenible director Armando Paino Henriquez Dajer is on a media tour to explain what the Abinader administration is doing regarding open sky garbage dumps. Fideicomiso Do Sostenible is a private-public trust with board members representing the Executive Branch, and municipalities (Liga Municipal Dominicana, Federación Dominicana de Municipios). The Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, EcoRed and a representative of companies dedicated to garbage management represent the private sector in the trust.
During an interview for Esta Noche con Mariasela with Mariasela Alvarez and National District senator Faride Raful, Henriquez Dajer explained that sanitary landfills are under construction in Dajabon, Tamboril, Moca, San Francisco de Macoris, Cotui, Samana, San Pedro de Macoris, Cancino (Santo Domingo East), Haina, San Cristobal, Bani, Pedernales, among 30 places the government is prioritizing. These were chosen by the Ministry of Environment working with the Japan Cooperation Agency (Jica).
Henriquez Dajer explained that there is a historic environmental liability accumulated over the years with more than 240 open sky dumps. 80% of these dumps are known to catch on fire and cause air contamination, lixiviates, and contaminate coastal, river and underground waters.
Henriquez Dajer explained that the public-private trust is working under the legal framework of the new Solid Waste Law 225-20 (Gestión Integral de Residuos Sólidos) in the taking of coordinated actions.
“What is most important is that the law established the Ministry of Environment is responsible for the policies for the garbage sector and to decide where the landfills are to be built,” he explained. He said before each city governments had its own public policy to handle garbage. He explained the role of the Fideicomiso Do Sostenible is as a trust to serve as the financial branch for the operations.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Do Sostenible
El Caribe
Esta Noche con Mariasela
4 July 2023