On St. John, the current solid waste disposal program limits collection of household and commercial trash to open-top dumpsters, which are often overflowing. Trash is regularly blown across the landscape, into environmentally sensitive areas and directly into the ocean. The Susannaberg Transfer station on St. John has been unable to install any of the planned modernization of the facility for over a decade and is over capacity.

Capital Improvement funds currently pay for waste hauling by trucks on barges to Bovoni Landfill on St. Thomas; the Bovoni Landfill is under a Federal Consent Decree to close and is also beyond capacity, further increasing urgency to overhaul and redesign the current waste management system. Ninety-eight percent of survey respondents said they supported recycling and would participate in a recycling program. Over the past 20 years, small-scale recycling and source separation efforts have been embraced but have not had the opportunity to develop into a larger, more resilient recycling system. Significant barriers exist, including the cost of transportation off island to recycling facilities, the cost of establishing and running the recycling programs and limited markets or recycling uses. Composting is another way to use solid waste locally and reduce the volume of solid waste handled. This project seeks to divert and reduce solid waste volume at landfill sites, expand the local economy, improve island aesthetics and reduce pollution sources. Develop a comprehensive waste recycling program; this would include a few larger, multi-purpose facilities offering convenient waste separation, recycling, and reuse opportunities. Proposed facilities could be shuttered and prepared, pre-storm, to offer resiliency. This project is driven by the following objectives: • To significantly divert and reduce solid waste volume at landfill sites, successfully decommission landfills, and reduce items from the solid waste stream going to any landfill. • To derive valued commodities from the standard waste stream for local use or export, to diversify and expand the local economy. Enhance employment opportunities as recycling-associated products create new commerce • To greatly improve island aesthetics, reduce pollution sources that include toxic leachates that destroy terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and to control fugitive methane, which contributes greatly to accelerated climatic warming.

IMPLEMENTATION STEPS: 1. Review recycling studies that have been conducted and, if necessary, do additional financial feasibility assessment. 2. Develop island-scale models to incorporate into a comprehensive plan for solid waste management 3. Build multipurpose waste and recycling/composting facilities across the island. 4. Develop home-based education program on recycling and source separation. 5. Support the rebuilding and expansion of the one recycling facility 6. Create training opportunities and skill development to address industry-related workforce needs

Key Players: Waste Management Authority; Island Green Living; St. John LTRT Alignment: CPCB, IS, NCR RSFs, USDA Cost: $100,000 - $1Million Timeline: < Three Years