With the surge of sawmills in Linden, moving from four to 20 in the Amelia’s Ward area in the past five years, the mining town is struggling to keep up with the waste from these businesses. This is according to the town’s Mayor Sharma Solomon, who said that the current dumpsite simply cannot handle the waste.
During the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) press conference on Friday last, Solomon disclosed that sawmills in the community have increased fivefold in recent years. He shared, “Linden over the past five years has seen a proliferation of sawmills, moving from four in the Amelia’s Ward community to almost 20.”
He explained that this surge in logging operations has placed immense strain on the town’s existing waste disposal system, especially considering its proximity to residential areas.
Solomon noted, “Our current waste site is unable at the moment to take that sort of waste deposit.”
Further, the mayor noted that efforts are underway to relocate the town’s current dumpsite from the Kara Kara Creek to a new location. However, the process is still in limbo as the Linden Mayor and Town Council await approvals from key agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Local Government.
According to Solomon, the proposed site has already been identified using GPS tracking and he was informed that its development has been budgeted for in the 2025 budget.
Solomon also shared that sawmill operators have admitted to using the current dumpsite, and while the EPA has stepped in to give interim directions, the real solution lies in fast-tracking the relocation process.
