The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is confronting a severe environmental challenge as its primary waste facility struggles under mounting pressure from discarded tires. Cook’s Landfill, the country’s sole official waste disposal site, is receiving approximately 1,500 tires per day alongside six tons of solid waste and 30,000 gallons of sewage, creating critical capacity and environmental concerns.
Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications, revealed during a post-Cabinet briefing that tire disposal has emerged as a particularly pressing issue. Unlike conventional household waste, tires present unique environmental hazards including heightened fire risks and extremely slow decomposition rates, prompting government officials to explore innovative management strategies.
The Cabinet is actively investigating technological solutions to divert tires from the landfill system. Among the options under consideration is the ‘Burning Flames Highway’ technology, which incorporates shredded tire material into road construction under environmentally regulated conditions. This approach could simultaneously address waste reduction and infrastructure development needs.
Additionally, authorities are examining waste-to-energy conversion systems that could alleviate landfill burdens while generating usable power. Merchant characterized these technologies as longer-term strategic solutions currently undergoing comprehensive assessment.
The scale of the problem becomes starkly evident when considering that the daily tire influx equates to a full set of passenger car tires every fifteen minutes continuously. This challenge is particularly acute for small island nations like Antigua and Barbuda, where limited land availability compounds waste management difficulties.
While the government continues investing in traditional landfill infrastructure—including bulldozers, excavators and compactors—officials acknowledge that more sustainable solutions must form part of their long-term planning. As deliberations continue, residents and environmental stakeholders await decisive action to modernize the island’s waste management systems in line with population growth and contemporary ecological standards.