by Curlan Campbell
- GSWMA recognised World Environment Day by launching communal waste separation
- Dominica and Grenada met eligibility requirement for Recycle OECS project
- Plastics are ranked third on list of waste streams arriving at Grenada landfill
Recycle OECS model demonstration project is set to enhance the Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority’s (GSWMA) capabilities in waste separation, collection, processing, and recycling in Grenada.
Once implemented, this project will help curb plastic pollution, which is growing relentlessly as waste management and recycling efforts fall short. It will also consider a regional approach towards self-financing, sustainability, and business viability.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has identified member states Dominica and Grenada, to stage Recycle OECS model demonstration projects after meeting the eligibility requirement. Their decision came after consultants commissioned by the OECS secretariat over 6 months visited and conducted assessments of several territories to decide which of the 2 would be best suited to do a model waste separation for a recycling project.
Head of the OECS Environmental Sustainability Division Chamberlain Emmanuel, identified the 2 countries while unveiling the Recycle OECS Project on 7 June, the eve of World Ocean’s Day.
A release from The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) quoted Emmanuel as saying, “In so doing, the Recycle OECS Project is advancing the strides of the region to position our perspectives and prospects toward the vision of A Model Blue Economy Region.” He observed that the region is “littered with plans: vision plans, strategic plans, and action plans, but there is a wide lag in implementation,” and challenged Member States to “change the tides and get it done.”
To combat this environmental threat, GSWMA on Monday, 12 June 2023, in keeping with activities to recognise World Environment Day, launched its communal waste separation through the introduction of colour-coded litter bins in our towns, beaches, and hotspots for littering with support financing from the OECS Commission to curb plastic pollution.
Speaking on behalf of GSWMA, Communications Manager Myrna Julien reiterated that this project could not have come at a better time. “Here in Grenada, we are at the crossroads of changing the way we manage waste with plans to focus greater attention on waste diversion both as a means of encouraging businesses to be born out of waste while cutting back on waste going to the landfills for final disposal and for addressing the countless environmental and public health challenges that have emerged from improper disposal of waste including indiscriminate disposal of waste, just to name a few.”
Plastics are ranked third on the list of waste streams arriving at the landfill based on the most recent waste characterisation study completed in February 2020. The first is organic waste at 25% with paper and paperboard at 13.9%.
“With plastics being approximately 13.9% of our waste streams, the second highest based on our most recent waste characterisation study, we are aware that with limited land space for waste disposal and limited space for landfill development, we ought to seek viable alternatives to landfilling waste. Additionally, we are aware of the huge leakage of plastic waste in the natural environment and its contribution to ocean plastic pollution,” Julien said.
“Guided by the OECS commission, we believe that this regional approach to waste recycling, as will happen under Recycle OECS through the pooling of resources and expertise in technical support, collaborations, learning from the experiences of our neighbouring territories and the implementation of successful best practices which are unique to our islands is very critical and will work in the best interest of driving the waste diversion agender of our OECS solid waste management entities,” she said.
“We look forward [to] the technical support and guidance in ensuring that initiatives that will emerge from Recycle OECS will provide the backing needed by the GSWMA to achieve its target of Zero Waste by the year 2030. This technical support, together with the procurement of tools and specialised equipment for effecting waste collection, processing and recycling that will be offered by this project, will be critical for any initiative which is new to us and involves waste and must be sustainable and must survive on self-financing,” she added.
The implementation of Recycle OECS in Grenada will place the GSWMA in a position to create systems for waste separation, collection and processing that will establish an enabling environment to encourage businesses to be born out of waste, and where economies of scale need to be achieved, and waste quantity targets met, to drive processing for recycling or export; divert waste types that would have otherwise been scattered in the natural environment resulting in pollution, to be captured in the stream to our recycling centres/ stations.
Following the official sign-off by the selected member states, their waste management authorities will work with the technical consultants to commence stakeholder engagement activities to present the model and adapt it. Once finalised, the model will be available to other OECS Member States and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the region for adoption or adaptation. The GSWMA also plans to accommodate /establish the enabling environment to encourage businesses to be born out of waste plastics and is currently negotiating with local business interests.
Recycle OECS is funded by the European Union and implemented by the OECS Commission in partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The 2-year project supports the broader European Union (EU) Zero Waste initiative in the Caribbean Programme, which aims to strengthen the EU-Caribbean partnership for cooperation in circular economy and solid waste management.
STOP accepting GARBAGE from CRUISE SHIPS first of all and secondly STOP allowing to dump their TOILET WASTE offshore. Cruise ships are just floating toilets and garbage vessels who use the islands as dumping grounds. A mere $1 per person from the Cruise ships DOES NOT alleviate the problems caused by their refuse.
Go back to glass bottles that can be collected, sterilised and reused.