The Dominican government has initiated a landmark environmental project to transform the problematic Duquesa landfill into a model of sustainable waste management. President Luis Abinader officially launched the comprehensive initiative on Tuesday, marking a significant step toward addressing one of the nation’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The $110 million remediation effort represents a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and international financial institutions including the Inter-American Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. This collaborative approach underscores the global significance of proper waste management solutions.
President Abinader characterized the project as far more than mere landfill closure, describing it as a complete environmental transformation employing advanced engineering solutions, risk mitigation protocols, and ecological restoration techniques. The initiative addresses decades of environmental degradation that has particularly affected adjacent communities through recurrent fires and toxic emissions.
The comprehensive program includes critical technical components such as soil stabilization, leachate management, greenhouse gas capture, runoff control systems, and slope reshaping. These engineering interventions will establish the foundation for environmental recovery while preventing further contamination.
Beyond the technical aspects, the project incorporates significant social elements including recreational infrastructure for surrounding communities. Planned facilities include sports fields, children’s play areas, outdoor gym equipment, an amphitheater, and a five-kilometer recreational circuit. The program also formalizes the status of waste pickers and is projected to mitigate approximately 140,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent annually through advanced gas capture systems.
Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez identified Duquesa as the country’s largest environmental liability, containing over 30 million tons of accumulated waste. The successful maintenance of a fire-free period at the site demonstrates preliminary progress toward sustainable management.
This initiative forms part of broader national efforts to transform waste management infrastructure, having already addressed 30 landfills across the country since 2020 through a dedicated solid waste management trust. The Duquesa project and concurrent cleanup of the Gurabo ravine in Santiago are positioned as national benchmarks for modern environmental remediation.