Hannibal “Mike” Ware, the new executive director of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, met with about 60 St. Croix residents during a public town hall at Alfredo Andrews Elementary School to discuss sanitation challenges, illegal dumping, recycling, sewage infrastructure, and the future of residential garbage collection.
“This is one of my first opportunities to hear directly from the community about their concerns, and I’m committed to addressing them,” Ware told residents. “Education and enforcement must work together — penalties alone will not solve the problem of illegal dumping.”
Ware, addressing the agency’s current realignment under limited resources, said, “We are focused on stabilizing the authority and improving service. Our goal is to work with the community, not against it.”
He highlighted two major territory-wide concerns: improper disposal of used oil and abandoned tires. “These are serious public health and environmental hazards,” Ware said. “We need both enforcement and education to ensure residents and businesses comply.” Ware confirmed that there are approximately one million undisposed tires across the territory and emphasized that oil contamination and tire dumping create dangerous environmental and health risks. “We’re exploring ways to trace tires from businesses and improve disposal options, so these problems don’t continue,” he said.
To address these challenges, Ware announced plans to break ground on new convenience centers on St. Croix at Concordia, Mon Bijou, and Cotton Valley, designed to handle residential and commercial waste more efficiently. “We’re creating modern, safe, and properly managed sites,” he said. Groundbreaking at Concordia is scheduled for Jan. 30, with construction for each center expected to take four to five months.
Residents raised questions about enforcement patrols, noting that illegal dumping often occurs at night. Ware confirmed that patrols are already underway but acknowledged that staffing limits prevent around-the-clock coverage. The agency is actively hiring additional officers.
Concerns about reduced receptacles at the Peters Rest Convenience Center were addressed. Ware said operational changes led to fewer containers but confirmed new receptacles have been ordered and will be serviced more frequently.
Inconsistent household trash pickup was another topic of discussion. Residents cited missed and late collections. Ware acknowledged the issue, citing aging equipment, staffing shortages, and reliance on contractors. Job announcements have been posted for sanitation workers, technicians, and truck drivers to stabilize routes and improve service.
He reminded residents that household bins are only for bagged household waste, including food and paper products. Yard waste, such as branches, is not accepted due to fire risks at disposal facilities.
Much of the discussion centered on the potential introduction of residential garbage collection fees. Ware explained that VIWMA was originally designed to include such fees and noted that the Virgin Islands is one of the few U.S. jurisdictions that does not currently charge for residential collection. A professional fee study is underway to determine a potential structure, with affordability and community impact under careful review.
Residents emphasized the need for education alongside enforcement, especially regarding tires, appliances, electronics, and green waste. “Outreach must come before penalties whenever possible,” Ware agreed.
Other concerns included illegal dumping of appliances and debris along roadways, recycling expansion, and aging sewage infrastructure. Ware said federal disaster recovery funding has been secured for a full wastewater system replacement, a major long-term project.
Despite frustrations, residents thanked the agency for engaging with the public. Ware said improving communication and transparency will remain a priority.
“We all want a cleaner Virgin Islands,” Ware said. “That will take the government and community working together.”
