Coffee industry gets first wastewater treatment plant
Published:Wednesday | February 5, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer
THE NATIONAL Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has welcomed the first wastewater treatment plant in the coffee industry, which was constructed at the Mavis Bank Coffee factory recently.
Managing director at the factory, Senator Norman Grant, who was speaking with The Gleaner during a tour of the facility, said it's a dream come true, adding that he has always been concerned about the environmental implications derived from the processing of the crop.
"This operation is what I call a game-changing operation in the coffee industry. It's a first," he declared.
"The truth is, which I am ashamed to say is that, effluent and other hazardous materials were going into the river, but I am happy that this will go a far way in preventing that, because we see where over time, this would be detrimental to the environment and the residents," he said.
Grant also said he was proud of the fact that the initiative took place in a developing country.
protecting environment
"We have moved from a position where operations here were hazardous to the environment to one that is friendlier. We are a huge employer of labour, but it doesn't mean persons must live in an uncomfortable environment, and this is just a sign that the protection of the environment is imperative," Grant told The Gleaner.
"I am especially proud because this was done in Jamaica and not some other First-World country. I have always had this concern, but the truth is that we just didn't have the money," he declared.
Director of environmental management and conservation at NEPA, Anthony McKenzie, pointed out this is a step in the right direction and there will be ongoing assessment.
"In recent times, we have permitted about nine treatment plants, including the one at Mavis Bank, so we are expecting significant improvement in the areas where they discharge effluent," said McKenzie.
"We started out with several consultations with the coffee sector, in implementing codes of practices for the industry and, of course, the matter of how effluent is treated was of major concern because a lot of the factories deal with untreated effluent going into the waterway," McKenzie said.
He added: "We will be doing ongoing monitoring because we would want to see and document specifically the level of water quality now that this has been implemented."