Regional evaluation municipal solid waste management services: country analytical report Dominica evaluation 2002

Dominica is an independent Commonwealth within the British Commonwealth. The country is a member of
the OECS and is located in the central portion of the Caribbean between Guadeloupe and Martinique. Control
of all affairs, both internal and external, is vested in the Central Government located in Roseau, the capital city.
The solid waste management system is controlled by the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation, a
semi autonomous body under the Central Government.
Dominica‘s population as of the 2001 census was 71,242. This places it in the low medium range for the PAHO survey.
The economy of Dominica is dependent on agricultural exports with bananas and coconuts being of primary
importance. Efforts are currently being made to diversify these imports. The sharp decline in the banana market
has resulted in severe economic problems at the national level that are reflected in the funding problems
experienced by DSWMC.
The tourist industry is not of primary importance in the local economy. The equivalent population increase
from all tourist sources is 2.17%, a relatively low figure. Cruise ship arrivals outnumber "stay over" arrivals by
approximately 5:1. The tourist effect on solid waste generation rates is therefore low.
The per capita waste generation rate is 0.91 kg/person/day. This figure has been adjusted to account for the
low collection coverage throughout the island. The adjusted figure is still in the lower range for the OECS countries.
Possible reasons for this include the poor economic conditions that currently exist and the low number
of long term tourists.
Poverty levels in Dominica are very high with 29% of the households considered to be below the poverty line.
38% of those households are considered to be in indigence. The GINI coefficient is 0.488, a high value indicating
a maldistribution of wealth as well as the general poverty level.
Health care is good with an average life expectancy at birth of 74.1 years. There are five major hospitals and fifty
local health clinics located throughout the island.
Illiteracy is moderately high at 6% of the population. This may be a side effect of the basically rural nature of
the country and the poor economy.
Control of the solid waste management system is centralized under the Dominica Solid Waste Management
Corporation. The Corporation, while a semi-autonomous body, retains close ties to the Environmental Health
Department.
Solid waste disposal is currently in two landfills, one located close to Roseau and one located in the Portsmouth
area. Neither is a secure landfill nor the Portsmouth site is little more than an open dump.
Both current landfills will be phased out and capped when the new secure Fond Colet landfill and the
Portsmouth area transfer station are complete and operational.
The solid waste collection system is operated by DWSMC. Coverage is not complete, probably serving no better
than 50% of the population. The coverage in the south east portion of the island is particularly poor. Industrial,
Commercial and Institutional (ICI) wastes are privately collected, usually by the generators themselves.
The legislative framework in Dominica is excellent. It is not, however, backed up by either appropriate regulations
or a strategic plan for waste management. The lack of regulations is considered serious by DSWMC. The
strategic plan is under development.
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
COUNTRY ANALYTICAL REPORT DOMINICA 1
The major strengths in the current Dominican solid waste management system include the dedication and
commitment of the DWSMC staff and the growth of a viable collection and disposal system
The major weaknesses in the system include a severe lack of operational funding and the incomplete staffing
of DWSMC. Given the poor condition of the national economy, there is little prospect of improvement in these
areas in the near future.
There is a high level of public interest in composting of "green waste", possibly at a commercial level. In addition
DWSMC is promoting the local composting of rural domestic waste as a means of reducing the amount of
organic waste that reaches the landfill.
The severe lack of funding and the total lack of any source of income that is payable directly to DSWMC limits
the ability of the Corporation to develop.