October 28, 2010—CHF has launched
an innovative new program in Haiti that is turning buildings
destroyed by the January 12 earthquake into valuable sand and
gravel that is being used in the recovery effort.
CHF's program, called CRUSH
(Creating Rubble Recycling Solutions for Haiti), was launched in
Petit-Goave on October 18 and is intended to eventually expand
to several sections of the earthquake-affected area.
The CRUSH program is currently
using 10 portable rock crushers supported by a total of 284
workers to process rubble at 9 sites in Petit-Goave. The
portable crushers were built by Red Rhino Crushers in the United
Kingdom, representatives of which came to Haiti in mid-October
to train CHF local staff in how to use and maintain the
machines.
CRUSH
is unique in that it is the only large-scale program in Haiti
that is actively converting rubble into material that can be
used on-site to improve communities affected by the earthquake.
Among other uses, CHF has been using sand and gravel to
construct cement platforms for its shelter program.
Additionally, CHF is accumulating gravel for use in critical
road projects identified in concert with the local government,
and will soon be delivering gravel to serve as floors of schools
still operating out of tents.
The CRUSH program is also unique
in that it dramatically reduces the transportation costs and
bureaucratic obstacles associated with other rubble removal
programs in Haiti. Suitable, approved rubble dump sites in
virtually all parts of Haiti are either of insufficient size or
are so far away from affected areas that they are cost
prohibitive both in terms of time required to access them as
well as money required to fuel the trucks. Processing the rubble
on-site is much cheaper overall and will allow CHF to operate
much more efficiently than other rubble removal programs in
Haiti.
In less than two weeks, CHF's
crushers have already processed nearly 1,000 cubic meters of
rubble to produce an equivalent amount of sand and gravel.
Petit-Goave Mayor Marc Roland
Justal was complimentary of CHF's program. "I love the new
rubble recycling program that CHF is implementing here," said
Justal as he toured one of CHF's recycling sites. The mayor
continued, "Instead of just throwing rubble into the ocean or
rivers, we can dispose of it on site and for useful purposes."
The mayor promised to collaborate with CHF to identify the best
possible uses for the processed rubble, in particular key dirt
roads that would be reinforced by adding a layer of gravel.
The CRUSH program is paid for by
USAID and will continue through February 2011.
For more information about Red
Rhino Crushers, see their website athttp://www.redrhinocrushers.com
Fine sand produced by CHF's
rubble crushers. Such sand is ideal for producing concrete for
use in building shelter foundations.
