The Riverton landfill has been a spotlight of annoyance over many years, yet the negative impact which this has caused can be overridden, creating many different opportunities in our country.

Over time, rotting garbage creates a gas, which is called methane, which can be used to generate electricity. To make use of this, the landfill would have to be redesigned and an extraction system for the gas to be collected installed. Additionally, a well-managed municipal waste system should be in place, such as sufficient garbage-collection vehicles allotted across the island. Having this would enhance the efficient collection of our wastes.

Capturing methane from our landfill as an energy source can yield substantial energy, economic and environmental benefits and, by extension, improve energy independence, creating jobs and helping the local economy.

In summary, I must say in our global economic crisis and previous financial situation which is still with us, we ought to take in account the importance of these benefits and also the changes this would have with our garbage collection.

I am, etc.,

G.C. BRACKETT

St Catherine