Government establishes task force to address waste management issue in Aruba
ORANJESTAD – Minister of Justice, Integrity, Public Transport, and Energy, Mr. Arthur Dowers, MSc, has officially installed the Waste Management Task Force.
Starting September 1, 2026, this task force is tasked with developing concrete proposals for sustainable, comprehensive, and responsible waste management in Aruba, as well as supporting the implementation of this integrated management system.
Aruba has struggled with waste-related challenges for years. To arrive at a structural solution, the government considers it essential to tackle this issue comprehensively, with the participation of various departments and organizations responsible for or experienced in the fields of environment, infrastructure, maintenance, supervision, and waste processing.
On September 8, the task force held its first meeting. During this session, the participating organizations shared information regarding their current roles in waste management, the bottlenecks they encounter, and their potential contributions.
One of the primary focus areas of the task force is the prevention and enforcement of laws concerning illegal dumping. Additionally, the task force will focus on:
- A comprehensive plan for sustainable waste processing and cleaning;
- The collection of relevant data and statistics;
- The recycling and processing of organic waste;
- Finding a sustainable solution for the financing of waste management.
According to Minister Dowers, Aruba can no longer address the waste problem only when it becomes visible. A sustainable solution requires prevention, accountability, oversight, and cooperation among all involved agencies.
The task force is also responsible for evaluating whether existing legislation needs to be amended or if new legislation is required, as well as building support for the implementation of the presented proposals.
The task force comprises representatives of the ministers of Waste Management and Energy (Minister Dowers), Environment (Minister Eman), and Infrastructure (Minister Herdé). Furthermore, the task force includes experts from various departments and organizations, such as the Department of Nature and Environment (DNM), Department of Public Works (DOW), Bureau City Inspection, Serlimar, utility companies, Aruba Waste Water Solutions (AWSS), and WEB Aruba N.V., alongside Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry (DEACI) and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism (Minister Cicilia).
The ultimate goal is to present concrete proposals to Minister Dowers for structured, sustainable, and responsible waste management, thereby supporting and promoting the implementation of the approved management framework and associated projects.
With the establishment of this task force, the government is taking a decisive step toward a coordinated and structured solution to Aruba's waste problem.