While many do not know, Puerto Rico has a longstanding garbage crisis. The Caribbean Island and unincorporated US territory’s waste problem recently made headlines during the 2024 Presidential election campaign.
According to a 2021 study commissioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Puerto Rico’s 29 municipal landfills and dumpsites could run out of landfill space in 2-4 years.
However, the island’s land site capacity problem has been a long-term issue, and debris from the hurricanes, particularly Maria and Irma, has seriously exacerbated the situation.
Most of Puerto Rico’s landfills fail to meet federal standards, and residents fear the trash will soon overwhelm the region.
Landfills on the island are growing mountains of trash, polluting the environment, and leaching toxins into the island’s fresh groundwater supplies. The mountains of waste and debris also attract pests and insects, causing an ever-present stench in the air.
Puerto Rico’s 55% forest cover also increases the vegetative disaster debris on the island, particularly during hurricane season. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, thousands of trees fell in residential areas, requiring them to be cleared and disposed of.
The EPA estimated that Hurricanes Irma and Maria generated 2.5 million tons of debris. This amount is equivalent to up to three years of waste accumulation disposed of in its landfills. Under the island’s current usage, it will fill its landfill capacity within a few years.
However, according to NPR, even before Hurricane Maria devastated the island, a three-story-high mountain of debris and waste was already sitting in what used to be a suburban soccer field. The debris from Hurricane Maria, estimated at 6.2 million cubic yards of waste and debris, added another eight stories more into existing landfills and dumpsites already bursting at the seams.
Waste facts
Data from the EPA and FEMA show that an average Puerto Rican resident generates 5.56 pounds of waste daily, 0.65 pounds higher than the US national average of 4.91 pounds. Recycling rates on the island are also low, with less than 10% of solid waste recycled, although at least 35% is recyclable.
In 2020, the island had 29 open dumps and landfills. Of these, 18 were open dumps where waste was left in direct contact with the ground and local resources. Only 12 of the 29 sites followed the rules the federal government set.
Most of these open dumps impact the environment. Four dumpsites are in flood valleys, ten impact wetlands, nine have the potential to contaminate drinking water sources, and four can impact natural reserves.
Growing garbage problem
According to Blackstar News, Puerto Rico’s waste problem is projected to grow. The island generates around 1.3 billion pounds of trash annually without proper waste disposal and recycling facilities, and nearly 85% of its landfills are at saturation levels, creating health and environmental problems.
In 2021, the US Department of Justice, on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a complaint against the municipality of Toa Alta. The complaint states, “The many problems at the landfill are well documented and the municipality must take steps to correct them to better safeguard local communities and the environment.” It also orders the municipality of Toa Alta to pay civil penalties for violating a 2017 EPA order.
The complaint cites three threats posed by the Toa Alta landfill: first, the municipality’s inadequate action to prevent large quantities of leachate from landfills from seeping into the environment, including its groundwater aquifer; second, landfill slopes are not stable and may collapse, endangering people who work in the landfills and those who live nearby; and third, the municipality’s failure to place a daily soil cover on the waste, which allows insects and vermins access and helps spread diseases.
Mitigating Puerto Rico’s waste problem
FEMA announced in April 2021 that it had approved around $7 million to repair damage caused by Hurricane Maria at several landfills and recycling centers around the island. The EPA has partnered with the Puerto Rico League of Cities to create an infographic guide and strategies to support the development and financing of solid waste and recycling projects.
EPA’s infographic guide provides six recommendations for mitigating Puerto Rico’s worsening garbage problem.
- Create an Asset inventory of landfills, composting sites, reuse and recycling facilities, etc.
- Solid waste and disaster debris planning
- Landfill and recycling infrastructure repairs, improvements and landfill closures
- Solid waste training and certification
- Responsible for financial operations and
- Public education outreach.
The worsening waste problem in Puerto Rico calls for effective and sustainable waste management solutions. These include improved recycling and waste reduction efforts, investment in waste infrastructure, and awareness campaigns to residents on the dangers of littering and poor disposal practices.
Cooperation between the local government, international organizations, and citizens is crucial to addressing the waste management problem.
Sources:
Kennedy, M. & Migaki, L. (2017, 14 December). After Maria, Puerto Rico Struggles Under The Weight Of Its Own Garbage. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/14/570927809/after-maria-puerto-rico-struggles-under-the-weight-of-its-own-garbage
US Government Calls for End of Disposing Solid Waste at Puerto Rico Municipal Landfill. (2021, 25 February). EPA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-government-calls-end-disposing-solid-waste-puerto-rico-municipal-landfill
The Puerto Rico Trash Problem: A Call for Change in Waste Management. (2024, 29 October). Black Star News. Retrieved from https://blackstarnews.com/puerto-rico-trash-problem/
Mejias, C. (2021, 16 February). Trash Crisis Leaves Puerto Rico Near’ the Brink’. Global Press Journal. Retrieved from https://globalpressjournal.com/americas/puerto-rico/trash-crisis-leaves-puerto-rico-brink/
Puerto Rico Landfill Problems: All You Need to Know. (2022, 9 May). Ecorich. Retrieved from https://www.ecorichenv.com/article/puerto-rico-landfill-problems
Federal and Puerto Rico Agencies Unveil Guide to Assist Municipalities in Integrating Solid Waste and Disaster Debris Management into Hazard Mitigation Plans. (2021, 14 September). EPA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/federal-and-puerto-rico-agencies-unveil-guide-assist-municipalities-integrating-solid
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