The proposed Waste to Energy plant (WTE) Project at La Chaumière is of a capacity 300 000 tonnes/year.

The implementation of a WTE of this capacity will represent a major shift in the waste solid management in Mauritius as it is proposed that seventy five percent (75%) of the total waste collected and disposed (domestic, commercial and industrial) at Mare Chicose will be incinerated instead of landfilled.

This shift in policy does not appear to be coherent with the policies of the solid waste and environmental management of Mauritius and its rationality is incomprehensible when data on solid wastes are analysed, particularly with regard to projected annual waste quantity, waste characteristics and waste recycling projects that have been approved already.

Moreover the composition of solid wastes in Mauritius is quite different from those of the Developed Countries (namely US, Europe and some Asian countries such as Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong) and its distinctive features are:

• High proportion of organic matter;
• High moisture content; and
• Low calorific value

This briefing review the recent studies completed to date on solid wastes in Mauritius and analysed the projected quantity of Solid wastes as well as the waste characteristics and the main projects in the waste recycling approved by the Board of Investment as reported.

Factors that support waste recycling projects are identified and their implications on the cost to public finance as opposed to the proposed Waste to Energy Plant.

This briefing also reviews in the main the EIA report on the proposed WTE Plant as published on the web site of the Department of Environment.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 2002, waste incinerator, Power Station and Landfill are undertakings that require an Environmental Impact Assessment. Hence it is expected that the Project addresses the environmental and social aspects with due diligence.

However the EIA report contains many shortcomings and does not conclusively
demonstrate that the proposed WTE Plant at La Chaumière is not a threat to the well
being of the population of the nearby settlements, agricultural activities and animal
husbandry of the immediate vicinities, economic development of the region as well as
nationwide, water pollution of the surface and underground waters among others.
This briefing also sets out why in the absence of key details on the proposed WTE plant, the precautionary principle must be applied and the EIA application must be rejected.