The Project Preparation & Implementation Programme for Timor-Leste (PPIP) Key Expert for Solid Waste Management, Mr Jan Skajaa, conducted a workshop on 3 June 2022 regarding the selection of sites for transfer stations and two regional sanitary landfills that are proposed to be established as part of the PPIP investment programme. The workshop was attended by representatives from the following municipalities Lautem, Baucau, Manatutu, Covalima, Ainaro, and Manufahi, in addition to representatives of National Directorate for Spatial Organisation under the Ministry of Planning and Territory (DNOE/MPO), and the National Directorate for Urban Organisation under Ministry of State Administration (DNOU/MAE), the National Authority for Water and Sanitation (ANAS I.P).
Mr Jan Skajaa provided an overview of the PPIP project mentioning that the project was currently in the prefeasibility stage. The PPIP Project Steering Committee has approved the following two sub-projects in the solid waste sector:
- Integrated Solid Waste Management collection, transport, and disposal for Timor-Leste outside of Dili;
- Healthcare Risk Waste Management for Timor Leste.
The focus of this workshop was the identification of two proposed suitable sites for the proposed regional sanitary landfills; one being in the east of the country and the other being in the south. As sanitary landfills are quite expensive to construct and operate, and the population of individual municipalities outside of Dili is too small to sustain individual landfills, therefore two regional sanitary landfills are proposed to supplement the existing new landfill at Tibar. The municipalities which will not have a sanitary landfill will be equipped with transfer stations to transport the waste to the sanitary landfill. Mr Jan Skajaa requested the participating municipalities to identify up to three possible locations for each of the two sanitary landfill sites, in addition to sites for transfer stations. The selection of the three locations for each of the two landfills will involve the municipal authorities in concert with MPO and then analysed by COWI which will then recommend one site for each landfill.
Two new regional landfills (to supplement the new landfill in Tibar):
- Located near Baucau, covering the municipalities of Manatuto, Baucau, Lautem, Viqueque. The land area needed is 10-15 ha which will cover the need for 25 years.
- Located near Ainaro, covering the municipalities of Manufahi, Ainaro, Covalima. The land area needed is 8-10 ha which will cover the need for 25 years
The existing sanitary landfill in Tibar will service the remaining municipalities.
Mr Jan Skajaa presented main considerations for selecting locations for landfills including:
- The distances to residential and recreation areas, waterways, water bodies, and other agricultural or urban sites
- The existence of groundwater, coastal water, or nature protection zones in the area
- The geological and hydrogeological conditions in the area
- The risk of flooding, subsidence, landslides, or avalanches on the site
- The protection of natural or cultural patrimony in the area.
Mr Jan Skajaa commented that the results of the workshop identified no opposition among participants regarding the concept of 1) local recycling stations, 2) municipal transfer stations, and 3) regional landfills. The municipalities announced that they were ready to discuss this further at local meetings with the COWI Consultants. Mr Jan Skajaa hopes that the selection of sites for landfills and transfer stations can be concluded quickly allowing for a quick evaluation and final selection of construction sites.
