Riverton fire costs $25 million

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The Local Government Minister, Noel Arscott, has disclosed that the fire which raged for several days at the Riverton City Landfill in St. Andrew, will cost the government $25 million.

In delivering a statement in parliament yesterday , Arscott noted that this is significantly less than the original estimate of $65 million.

The fire at the landfill was put out on Sunday, six days after it started.

The local government minister said emergency teams are now carrying out cleaning up and smoke mitigation exercise at the landfill.

Meanwhile, Arscott said the government intends to improve the Riverton City Landfill site, as well as implement measures to enhance the fire response and mitigation capacity of the National Solid Waste Management Authority.

He said he has had talks with the energy minister, Phillip Paulwell, about a ‘waste to energy’ project that is expected to help with the management of garbage disposal.

Arscott said a working team has been set up to develop a plan of action.

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