Alert in La Romana over possible crisis due to solid waste management
Various environmental and community organizations in the Eastern region have raised their voices to warn about an imminent solid waste crisis in La Romana. Faced with the possibility that the City Council and the Board of Aldermen will proceed with the closure of the transfer station known as El Taller, the groups have demanded the immediate presentation of a technical, legal, and transparent plan that guarantees the continuity of the service.
The request was supported by a common front made up of the La Romana Environmental Coalition, ECOPARQUE, the Río Chavón Foundation, the Eastern Environmental Coalition, Macorix Verde, and parents’ and community associations from Villa San Carlos. These groups base their demands on Law 225-20, the current regulation that governs the comprehensive management and co-processing of waste in the country.
We are not against sanitation, nor are we in favor of any company. If El Taller does not comply with the environmental standards of Law 225-20, it is necessary to seek a definitive solution. But a closure without a proven alternative does not solve an environmental problem: it shifts it to the streets and turns it into a public service and health crisis.
Statement from environmental organizations of La Romana
Transparency and technical rigor requirements
The organizations emphasized that, if the current station were to be closed without a functional alternative, the municipality could face a dangerous accumulation of trash on its public roads. Therefore, they have requested that municipal authorities respond to a set of fundamental questions before making any final decision:
- Presentation of a transfer plan specifying where the waste will be deposited and what its operational capacity will be.
- Full transparency regarding operating costs and the budgetary source that will finance the new scheme.
- Details on the legal framework under which the new management would operate, whether through contracts, concessions, or trusts.
- Presentation of technical and environmental studies that validate both the closure of current facilities and the viability of the new proposal.
Finally, the spokespersons for the entities emphasized that the well-being of citizens must prevail over any political or business interest. The community demands accountability and clarity regarding the transition processes, ensuring that any measure adopted complies with the established legal standards for the protection of the environment and the public health of the residents of La Romana.
