President's Speech

President’s Speech – 2nd SWANA Caribbean Symposium

CONTINUING WITH THIS YEAR PROGRAM, HAVING THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL REGULATORY AGENCIES DIRECTORS AS REPRESENTATIVES PRESENTING THEIR CURRENT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT WE WILL ALSO INCLUDE A PRESENTATION ON THE USVI MEASURES TAKEN TO MANAGE THEIR SOLID WASTE MANGEMENT INCLUDING THOSE IMPLEMENTED TO IMPROVE THEIR REUSE, RECOVERY AND RECYCLING ALTERNATIVES. FURTHERMORE, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON A NEW VENTURE THAT PROPOSES A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE RECYCLING CENTER STARTING WITH A METAL RECYCLING OPERATION. THIS OPERATION IS ONE THAT OUR ISLAND DOES REQUIRE TO ASSURE COMPETITIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF RECYCLEABLE MATERIALS DUE TO THE LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE IN PR AND THE CARIBBEAN REGION FOR THIS TYPE OF MATERIALS. THE AFTERNOON SESSION WILL END WITH PRESENTATIONS FROM TWO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ENTITIES THAT HAVE MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THE PR ADDRESSING THOSE CURRENT PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED IN IMPROVING COLLECTION AND SEGREGATION PROGRAMS TO MEET MUNICIPAL RECYCLING GOALS IN DESIGNATED URBAN AREAS. OUR ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE PROVIDING AND SUFFICING NEEDS THAT GOVERNMENTAL, MUNICIPAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENTITIES ARE REQUIRE TO IMPLEMENT IN THEIR MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTES GENERATED WITH THE SCHEDULING AND PRESENTATION OF TRAINING SEMINARS AND CERTIFIED COURSES TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT ENSURE THE PROPER

President’s Speech – 2nd SWANA Caribbean Symposium

MANAGEMENT OF THESE RESOURCE MATERIALS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS AND PERMITS ISSUED. THE SOLID WASTES REPRESENT A REAL AND STABLE COMMODITY IN OUR REGION TO BE MANAGED WITH TECHNICALLY-ACCEPTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTED TO MAXIMIZE ITS USE, RECOVERY AND RECYCLING MEANS. WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT OUR REGIONAL COUNTRIES, IN PARTICULAR OUR ISLAND, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THIS COMMODITY WILL ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR REGION AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE TO CONTINUE OUR EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AND TO EFFECTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE DECICIONMAKING PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT ON THE PROPER AND COST-EFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THIS NEW COMMODITY, THE SOLID WASTES. ITS VOLUME WILL NOT BE REDUCED, IT WILL INCREASE PROGRESSIVELY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN TO ASSESS TECHNOLOGIES AND OPERATIONAL PROCESSES WITH EFFICIENT CONTROL METHODS TO MINIMIZE RELATED HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE ATTENTIVE TO ALL THE PRESENTATIONS PROGRAMMED FOR THE DAY AND CONFIDENT TO PARTICIPATE CONTACTING ALL THE ENTITIES PRESENT IN THE EXHIBITION AREA AS WELL AS THE GUEST SPEAKERS. ENJOY YOUR DAY!!