EDITORIAL

Waste management critical

Over the last few years there has been a lot of talk in this country about waste management and what needs to be done to deal with the mountains of garbage generated by Barbadians on a yearly basis.

In recent times there has been even more focus on waste management with the introduction of the Garbage and Sewage Contribution, and the challenges we have been facing with the collection of garbage on account of the lack of garbage trucks.

What has become clear is that there can be no denying that solid solutions are needed to deal with the garbage, and efforts have to be made to come up with ideas to reduce the waste that makes its way to the landfill. But, if we are to be honest, then it must be noted that achieving this will be no easy task, as it will require that Barbadians change their thinking as it relates to waste management and put more focus on reducing, reusing and recycling.

It may sound simple – ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ – but it is still a concept that eludes most Barbadians. While there are currently companies here which collect and recycle products, including paper, oil, metal, plastic and glass, this recycling sector has not been properly developed; it lacks the support from Government that is required for it to flourish. The argument can therefore be made that the time is ripe for Barbados to legislate recycling.

Certainly, recycling PET bottles and metal is a concept Barbadians have bought into because there are monetary incentives to do so. Given that reality, it may serve some entity well, public or private sector, to institute a similar programme to encourage the recycling of other products; and for Government to look at expanding the existing legislation as it relates to the types of plastic items that can be recycled and for which payment is made. But consumers, too, have to play their part by reusing a number of the items that they would otherwise send to the dump. For example, old tyres can be used to make flower beds or vegetable gardens or even used as outdoor seating.

So there must be an all-of-society approach to embrace the concept of the circular economy and as part of that effort, there are opportunities within that cycle for Barbadians to start new enterprises and be gainfully employed, giving things that would otherwise make it into our waste stream a second life. There are people across the world already engaged in such activities, turning plastic bottles into roof tiles; glass bottles into water goblets; and organic waste into compost – so there is no need for us to reinvent the wheel, we can draw on their experiences and best practices.

It is even clearer that comprehensive waste management must be the order of the day, for even though we are not seeing the level of single use plastics being arbitrarily discarded due to the ban, the alternatives are still finding their way to the streets and beaches. It is a sign that in this country we have a littering problem that must also be addressed.

We need a solution because it will become increasingly difficult to find landfill space to dispose of the garbage generated in this country. With the first phase of the ban on single use plastics already being rolled out and expected to extend to plastic bags come January next year, we have made a step in the right direction to help reduce the amount of garbage we generate. With that date just a short few months away, there is still potential for Barbadians to develop home-grown industries manufacturing organic or bio-based bags for use instead of the plastic bags, and it is hoped that they cash in on those opportunities.

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000