Various studies have estimated the amount of solid wastes generated in Mauritius, in
this regard Fichtner(2000)4 and Carl Bro(2005)5are the two recent studies.

The Department of Environment provides an estimate of Total Solid waste (domestic,
commercial and industrial) generation at 1200tonnes/day6 and also indicated that the
solid waste landfilled in 2003 was 372,434 tonnes 7(i.e. about 1020tonnes/day).

The estimation of solid waste generation using various growth scenarios including and excluding construction and demolition wastes are reproduced below.8

Table 4.1.1: MSW for Treatment and Disposal (including construction and demolition wastes)9

Table4.1.2: MSW for Treatment and Disposal (excluding construction and demolition wastes)10

As per Table 4.1.2, in 2009, the total solid waste available for incineration is estimated at 413,865tonnes/year under the maximum growth scenario (assuming an annual change of 2.0percent). Carl Bro actually recommends an annual change of 1.5%.

Fichtner (2000) estimated that the total solid waste available for incineration for 2009 under maximum growth scenario at 440,939tonnes/year whereas under normal growth scenario the estimate is 376,104tonnes/year.

Thus from the two studies, there appears to be agreement with the estimated total solid waste for 2009 under low growth and maximum growth scenario.

4.2 Solid Waste Recycling Projects

Several solid waste recycling projects have been in operation for several years. Glass, paper and textile wastes are recycled but the exact amounts of these wastes recycled per year are not reported.

However two large scale waste recycling projects will have major impacts on the availability of MSW for treatment and disposal. These projects have already been approved by the Board of Investments (BOI) already:

• A composting Project for 100,000tonnes of MSW/year (2007); and
• A waste paper recycling project to recycle 40,000tonnes of waste paper/year into paper products such as toilet paper, corrugated cardboard and news paper print(2004)

The impacts of these two large scale waste recycle projects can be appreciated below.

From the above summary, it can be concluded that even under the high annual change of 2% in waste generation:

• There is insufficient quantity of solid wastes per day for the safe and continuous operation of the composting, waste paper recycling and the proposed WTE plant;

• There will be a competition between the waste paper recycling project and the proposed WTE Plant as waste paper has a high net calorific value as compared to MSW only (see later). It can be anticipated that the reduction of the waste paper fraction will further decrease the net calorific value of MSW;

• As MSW cannot be stocked, it is very likely that circumstances will arise that waste will not be available for the proposed WTE Plant. Given the obligations of GoM to provide MSW, the revenue from the tipping fees is likely not going to be affected by a lack of MSW. However GoM will have to compensate the proposed WTE Plant for lack of revenues from sale of electricity and for any liability on account of reduced/no electricity generation;

• Because of the large scale of operation associated with the proposed WTE Plant, then the latter will effectively lock in supplies that could otherwise go for recycling;

• In addition the requirement for MSW waste to be provided within a relatively narrow range of calorific value means the removal of particular waste streams for recycling could cause the remaining waste to fall outside the acceptable range. For example the removal of paper and plastics for recycling would increase the relative proportion of organic/putrescible wastes in the residue and lower the calorific value. On the other hand, removal of organic/putrescible wastes for composting would help to keep the MSW in the acceptable range but reduce the overall quantity of waste available for processing;

• There will be no business opportunity for the development of further recycling as there will be virtually no waste left to sustain such activities, in effect given the large scale demand of MSW for the WTE plant (300,000tonnesMSW/year), incineration will ‘kill’ jobs and small business opportunities in resource recovery in Mauritius;

• There will be no incentive to promote waste reduction, re-use and recycling in contradiction to the present policy of GoM towards the 3Rs. It must be noted that most industrialised countries are focussing more on the 3Rs as waste disposal through incineration or landfill has not resolved the waste management problems but in effect has contributed to more problems such as environmental, social and economic.

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4 Ministry of Economic Development, Productivity and Regional Development (2000): Environmental Solid Waste Management Program – Feasibility Study. Fichtner
5 Source: Ministry of Local Government and Rodrigues (2005): Feasibility Report – Environmental Solid Waste Management Project – Carl Bro
6 Department of Environment: Fact sheet on Solid Waste Management p14
7 The total wastes disposed at Mare Chicose includes wastes from transfer stations, construction and demolition wastes, industrial wastes from individual waste carriers among others
8 Source: Ministry of Local Government and Rodrigues (2005): Feasibility Report – Environmental Solid Waste Management Project – Carl Bro
9 Source: Carl Bro (2005)
10 Source: Carl Bro (2005)