ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Aruba officially introduced its first permanent waste disposal zone in Barcadera as part of efforts to create a cleaner and more sustainable island.
Minister of Tourism, Transport and Labor Wendrick Cicilia presented the initiative together with several strategic partners, explaining that the project forms part of a broader plan to reinvest tourism revenue into environmental and community improvements.
The project is financed through the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), which stated that tourism income should directly support sustainability, public cleanliness, and the quality of life for residents.
According to officials, the Barcadera facility will provide residents with a permanent centralized location to dispose of household waste, large materials, and garden waste in a more organized and accessible way.
Authorities said the system is expected to reduce illegal dumping, improve neighborhood cleanliness, and eliminate long waiting periods previously associated with temporary collection systems.
The government also announced plans to evaluate the project after six months and study the possibility of expanding the concept into a larger “Milieustraat” environmental management system in the future.
Minister Cicilia emphasized that maintaining a clean Aruba requires cooperation between government and the community to protect the island’s environment and tourism industry.
