A sum of $3.687 billion has been made available to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development primarily for the construction of a new sanitary landfill at Haag Bosch on the East Bank of Demerara.

According to the 2008 Capital Project Profile of the Budget, the planned duration of the project is from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011.

The project will also provide for institutional strengthening and capacity building, public awareness and community participation, waste collection and participation of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, treatment and disposal of health care and hazardous waste and the rehabilitation, expansion and the closure of the Mandela landfill.

The project profile said that the benefits of the project would be improved sanitation and environment.

In February 2007 a loan in the amount of US$18.07M was signed between the Government of Guyana and the IDB for the project.

The project is slated for completion some 18 months after the disbursement of funds and the commencement of construction once the Project Execution Unit and other bodies are formed.

The Mandela site will continue to receive garbage until the completion and commissioning of the new Haag Bosch facility.

The landfill at Haag Bosch will make provision for the trapping of fire-causing methane gas and will be designed to ensure that no foul odour emanates from the site.

This will be a marked improvement over conditions at the Mandela site.

Almost 300 tonnes of garbage from Georgetown and its environs end up at the Mandela site on a daily basis and the landfill has seen regular methane-fuelled fires during the dry season.

The objective of the programme is to improve the quality of life of residents of metropolitan Georgetown through sustainable solutions for solid waste management. The construction and operation contract for the waste management facility will be awarded to a private company to be selected through competitive bidding.