Department of Waste Management Successfully Clears Derelict Vehicles from the Virgin Islands

In an end-of-year push to enhance the cleanliness of the Virgin Islands, the Department of Waste Management has intensified its efforts to remove derelict vehicles from both Tortola and Virgin Gorda.

Director of the Department, Mr. Marcus Solomon expressed pride in the department’s achievements, stating, “We have successfully tagged and relocated over seven hundred derelict vehicles, contributing significantly to our ongoing efforts to keep the Territory clean.” The removal also included scrap metals and bulk waste items such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, and scrap metals from the BVI Electricity Corporation.

Acknowledging the public’s assistance in identifying materials requiring removal, Mr. Solomon conveyed his gratitude, saying, “We want to thank members of the public for helping us identify the scrap metals and derelict vehicles that needed to be removed.”

The clearance project is in collaboration with local company KNJ General Maintenance, which began operations on December 11 in Virgin Gorda and continued on December 13 in Tortola.

Highlighting the scale of the undertaking, Mr. Solomon shared that earlier in the year, KNJ General Maintenance successfully processed and removed over two thousand tons of derelict vehicles and other scrap metals from the Virgin Islands. These materials were subsequently exported to Colombia for recycling.

Expressing optimism about the project’s conclusion, Mr. Solomon remarked, “We hope to finish the operation in the coming days and bring back the storage area to a pristine state again. All derelict vehicles will be transported on the barge, and items not for the barge will be relocated to our Pockwood Pond site.”

Emphasising the commitment of the Ministry of Health and Social Development to waste management innovation, Mr. Solomon highlighted, “The Ministry is dedicated to transforming and implementing innovative ideas and strategies to manage waste in the Virgin Islands.”