A volunteer expert on incinerators checked out the one that the Chamber is currently contemplating purchasing for use on the north side of the island. The expert told the Chamber that it is in good condition and could burn up to 300 pounds an hour and up to 840,000 pounds a year. The problem is that it is not nearly large enough for the present population, and would have to be supplemented by open pit burning.
The incinerator would create 59,000 pounds of ash which would be used as landfill. This is only equivalent of garbage produced from 150 to 200 homes. This would have to work in combination with a pit with an open screen on top. The screen would act as a ash control. Although this is the least desirable method, at this time there are no alternatives without a huge amount of donated money, and would still be better than no waste disposal system at all.
The Town Board will consider giving 10 acres on the lagoon side and will provide a road to it. The Town Board would consider implementing a mandatory charge of all residents on the North. A suggestion for charge was made at $25.00/month for residents and $75.00/month for businesses and an extra $20.00 charge per white item (such as stove, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.). This obviously would depend greatly on the estimated operational cost as well as the number of users.
The estimated people & machinery needed to run the operation is 6 people and a tractor and a back hoe. The Chamber members all agreed to continue pursuing the idea of purchasing the incinerator and starting the landfill with the help of the Town Board.
Tom Vidrine met with the Mayoress Elsa Paz, and discussed the possibility of having the Chamber provide a combination of incineration of trash as well as a fill site. The Mayoress feels strongly that this is necessary, and will be presenting to her Town Council a plan to provide the land, as well as fee collection if the Chamber would be willing to present a business plan to operate such a facility.
Other areas of discussion were:
That the fees of barges using the town pier were raised in an effort to encourage them to move outside of the center of town.
That the town would be providing material across the bridge for the Northern road so that Tom Vidrine (who volunteered to use his tractor) could use it to fix areas from his house at the Boca del Rio bridge to Tres Cocos area, and another load by Essene Way, where Alvaro (who volunteered to use his backhoe) will be fixing the area from White Sands to Journey's End.
Re-planting the palm trees that did not survive in the planter boxes on Front Street built by the Chamber.
Planting bougainvilleas on each side of the bridge to add color.
The encouragement of taxis to replace their vehicles with golfcarts so that they can provide taxi service across the bridge. Also the rumors that over 30 more taxi permits were been considered.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
