Incineration Center incapable of dealing with waste

Macau Solid Waste Incineration Center cannot deal with all of the waste produced in consequence of Typhoon Hato, the president of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), José Maria Tavares, acknowledged at a press conference held yesterday.

Tavares noted that the quantity of waste collected has been growing over the past few days. He presented comprehensive data that shows that between August 24 and 26, a total of 7,100 tons of materials were collected and redirected to further treatment.

But the high official admits, “We don’t have capacity to deal with everything […] some of the waste will have to stay on the waste landfill that, as a rule, was not to be used in that way.”

Tavares noted that different types of refuse are being dealt with in different ways.

“Trees and plants are being placed at Zone B [of the new landfills] while the others [solid waste] will be forwarded to the Incineration Center,” he said, adding, “The big problem at the moment is that all [of these kinds] are mixed together.”

The head of IACM informed that for the time being the services are using that waste landfill to sort the materials before taking the solid waste to the Incineration Center.

Tavares noted that IACM is counting on the cooperation of Health Bureau (SSM), which he hopes will take preventive measures regarding possible disease outbreaks stemming from the waste buildup.

With regard to food safety, the president of IACM admitted to have been across the region and to have seen – especially in the areas of the Inner Harbor and Avenida Almeida Ribeiro – some traditional Chinese medicine shops drying some of the products affected by the flooding situation. “It’s not correct. I don’t recommend [this] and it’s not allowed,” he said, informing that inspectors are being sent to inspect these occurrences and other matters related to food safety.