Bonaire has officially begun the safe removal of long-stored biomedical waste from the island. On April 14, the first five shipping containers left by sea, bound for a certified waste treatment facility in the Netherlands.
The waste—consisting of used medical supplies like syringes, bandages, and contaminated materials—had been stored for years in outdated containers at the Selibon facility. With help from specialized Dutch companies RMD-Advies and Renewi, the cleanup is now well underway.
Trained Teams Ensure Safe Handling
Before the operation began, workers received professional training to handle the waste safely. The old materials were carefully repacked into secure, leak-proof containers suitable for international transport. These were then sealed into new shipping containers ready for export.
No Health Risks Detected
During repacking, public health officials from GGD Bonaire collected surface samples to check for infectious bacteria. The results were reassuring: no harmful pathogens were found.
More Containers to Follow
The remaining stockpile will be processed and shipped off-island in the coming weeks using the same strict safety protocols.
Island Government: 'A Vital Step Forward'
Bonaire’s Executive Council welcomes the milestone. “This is an important step toward protecting public health and our environment. We will continue to monitor the process closely,” the Council said in a statement.
