2 weeks ago
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CEAC Outsourcing Company Limited plans more than triple the capacity of its waste-burning furnace in St Catherine to meet rising demand for medical and industrial waste disposal.
The company is in the process of seeking approvals for the project, and has submitted an environmental impact report to planning regulators, prior to community consultations.
Jamaica continues to face mounting challenges in handling medical and industrial waste.
“The lack of adequate infrastructure has resulted in improper disposal practices, which pose significant public health and environmental risks,” noted the report prepared on behalf of CEAC by McLean-Dixon Developments & Consultants and uploaded to the website of the National Environment and Planning Agency.
The waste management arm of CEAC was launched about eight years, serving clients such as Cornwall Regional Hospital, Mandeville Regional Hospital, Elite Diagnostics Limited, JSPCA, J. Wray & Nephew Limited, and Golar Arctic.
CEAC’s proposed Hill Run 2 Hazardous Waste Incineration Facility will replace the current Hill Run 1 site and introduce two modern incinerators capable of processing “1,621 tonnes” of waste a year, up from the “existing 450.7 tonnes a year”.
CEAC isn’t just a waste disposal company; it operates five distinct brands spanning multiple sectors. The company offers internet-enabled home devices, office space rental for outsourcing, corporate staffing services, maritime crew placement, and hazardous waste management under its Hazpro brand.
The proposed Hill Run 2 facility will incorporate advanced incineration technologies, including a Venturi gas-scrubbing system designed to remove toxic gases from emissions. The report notes that the expanded site will address social and health concerns, while aligning with international standards, including the Basel Convention.
Not all residents in the Hill Run community support the expansion. A community survey conducted in 2025 as part of the environmental report found that “nearly half of the respondents objected to the proposed development”. Their concerns were primarily tied to odour, air quality, and trust in regulatory oversight.
Meanwhile, 56 per cent of respondents saw potential for job creation linked to the project.
In 2018, CEAC began with a pilot waste management project at New Yarmouth Estates in Clarendon. That initiative involved incinerating sludge, obsolete chemicals, and medical waste under an environmental permit.
Following its success, the company established Hill Run 1, which processed over 771.7 tonnes of hazardous waste between November 2019 and December 2023, according to the environmental report.
English (US) ·