The project to install a waste-to-energy plant in the El Catey community faces significant challenges, including opposition from residents of the El Catey and La Majagua communities, as well as concerns regarding airport safety due to the site’s proximity to the Presidente Juan Bosch International Airport.
Community members have expressed their opposition to the initiative, arguing potential environmental and social impacts for nearby populations. In recent months, various activities and demonstrations have been carried out in defense of the communities that would be impacted by the project.
Added to these concerns is the proposed location for the plant, situated a few kilometers from the Presidente Juan Bosch International Airport, the main air terminal of the Samaná province and one of the most important gateways for tourism in the region.
Experts in waste management and airport security have pointed out that both solid waste handled in open-air sites and that processed in closed facilities can attract birds in search of food. This situation poses a risk to flight operations, as it increases the possibility of bird strikes, a factor that is usually taken into account in the planning of projects near airports.
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Given this scenario, community sectors believe that the authorities must carefully evaluate the viability and location of the project, taking into consideration not only the management of the province’s solid waste, but also the operational safety of the airport and the protection of nearby communities.
The debate over the waste-to-energy plant continues to generate mixed opinions between those who consider it an alternative to improve waste management and those who believe its current location does not meet the appropriate conditions to guarantee the safety and well-being of the population.
