$300K shortfall stalls landfill project meant to clean up Northeast Haiti

FORT-LIBERTÉ, Haiti—A landfill under construction in Dumas, Morne Casse, designed to serve Fort-Liberté, Ouanaminthe, and Ferrier, has encountered major infrastructure challenges, requiring an additional $300,000 to complete. The site is part of a broader initiative to improve waste management in Haiti’s North, where one of three planned landfills—near Cap-Haïtien—has already been completed.

Despite its potential, the Dumas landfill has serious technical deficiencies, as revealed in a recent inspection by the Ministry of Environment. Key concerns include the absence of textile geomembranes, improper water management, and a lack of essential facilities such as a scale and a waste sorting system.

How the landfill is supposed to work

The landfill consists of four storage cells, each designed with a 40 cm clay safety barrier to prevent contaminated liquids (leachate) from seeping into the ground and polluting groundwater. The site spans 48,000 m², with dikes meant to be at least 1.5 meters high. However, Ministry of Environment experts found that these requirements were not met, requiring urgent corrections to ensure the landfill operates safely.

“We managed to complete the physical construction of the project on time in a difficult context given the situation in the country,” said Biken Neptune, head of BK Construction, which is overseeing the project.

Major issues identified

During a site visit, Ministry of Environment experts identified several critical issues that need immediate attention:

• Lack of textile geomembranes, which are crucial to isolating waste and preventing soil contamination
• Poor water management, requiring adjustments to prevent runoff and flooding
• Absence of a scale, making it impossible to track waste intake efficiently
• No selective waste sorting system, limiting recycling and proper waste management
• Dike structures below safety standards, requiring reinforcement to prevent overflow
• Lack of waste compaction equipment, particularly a bulldozer, reducing the landfill’s lifespan

“The defects identified at landfill sites have significant environmental implications. In the absence of textile geomembranes, leachate can seep into the soil, contaminate groundwater and threaten the health of surrounding communities. Inadequate management of runoff can also contribute to erosion and degradation of the local ecosystem,” said Astrel Joseph, an environmental expert at the Ministry of the Environment.

“In addition, without an effective selective sorting system, a large portion of the waste could end up being buried, limiting recycling opportunities,” Joseph added. “This goes against the principles of sustainable development that the country seeks to promote.”

Environmental concerns and funding challenges

Environmental experts warn that if these issues are not fixed, the landfill could contaminate nearby water sources, increase soil erosion, and reduce its long-term sustainability.

To address these concerns, the Ministry of Environment has requested an additional $300,000 from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is financing the project.

“It is not BK Construction that is requesting the $300,000 extension, it is the Ministry of the Environment to allow the construction and the installation of structures on the site,” said Neptune.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) originally funded the landfill’s $1.98 million construction, with the entire project financed by Japan, according to the program document. However, the Ministry of the Environment is now seeking an additional $300,000 from UNDP to address newly recommended innovations. According to the project’s construction firm, the original budget was accurate, but the additional funding request follows recommendations from waste transformation organizations to improve the landfill’s design. A UNDP source, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed that the original project cost was estimated at $3.5 million when first presented in 2021. It is unclear why the budget changed over the past three years or whether UNDP will approve the latest funding request.

The additional funding would go toward:

• Installing textile geomembranes to protect soil and groundwater
• Improving drainage systems to regulate water flow
• Adding sorting stations to optimize recycling
• Acquiring a bulldozer for waste compaction
•  Raising dike heights to meet safety standards

A look at future potential: Waste to energy

Despite the setbacks, officials are exploring biogas production as a long-term solution. The anaerobic decomposition of organic waste could generate renewable energy, providing electricity to surrounding communities.

“This project could not only help manage waste but also provide a renewable energy source for communities located near the site,” said agronomist Linés Similien.

Next steps for Haiti’s waste management

While the Dumas landfill faces major challenges, environmental experts and local officials remain optimistic that with proper funding and technical adjustments, it could become a model for sustainable waste management in Northeast Haiti.

“Securing the necessary funding for these projects is critical to ensuring their success,” said Pastor Jackson Polymus, a waste transformation expert in Fort-Liberté.

With continued investment and infrastructure fixes, the landfill could play a key role in reducing pollution, improving public health, and providing cleaner energy alternatives for Haiti’s Northeast region.

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$300K shortfall stalls landfill project meant to clean up Northeast Haiti was first posted on March 12, 2025 at 6:44 pm.