KRALENDIJK - The vessel Augusta Luna is set to depart from Kralendijk at the end of May, carrying just over seven tonnes of biomedical hospital waste to Rotterdam. This marks the thirteenth time that waste management company Selibon NV has exported a container of this type of waste from the island. According to the company, the export has by now become standard practice.
Strict regulations
Biomedical waste is classified as a hazardous waste stream due to the risk of contamination and is subject to strict regulations. Together with producers and processors, Selibon NV has set up the entire chain of collection, transport, packaging, shipping and processing on a sustainable basis, supported by local agreements and investments in personnel and resources.
The export of hazardous waste is also subject to stringent international laws and regulations designed to protect public health, safety and the environment. With the support of Dutch authorities, Selibon NV will be able to continue the export responsibly in the years ahead. Local processing is not yet possible on Bonaire.
An end to landfilling
Selibon NV also aims to arrange the sustainable disposal of other waste streams, as Bonaire intends to phase out landfilling in the near future. The current approach to biomedical waste serves as a model for this. With the growing recycling economy, the company expects waste export to become common practice in the coming years.
