EDITORIAL: Going green

Can we learn from others?

 

Waterford Bottom in St. Michael, Bucks, and Welchman Hall Gully in St. Thomas are locations that all have something in common… they are synonymous with dumping. One only has to take a stroll along our streets, beaches and nature trails to see the damage that is being done to our island. It is not an oddity to see persons in vehicles indiscriminately flinging garbage out through the windows as the cars are in motion. Just take a look around, the evidence clearly shows us that the situation is out of control. Illegal dumping is plaguing Barbados and the time to reclaim our island is now! 
 
This problem is not one that is limited to Barbados and the region. Waste management is a worldwide problem and over the past few decades, world leaders have united to educate persons in an effort to tackle this problem. As a region, we can look at the examples of many countries that have gone green by making more environmentally friendly decisions as is reflected in their policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging sustainable living. Switzerland heads the top of this list by recycling a whopping 52% of its waste. This is closely followed by Austria with 49.75%, Germany with 48% and Netherlands with 46%.  
 
Upon closer examination of Switzerland’s waste management policies, it is evident that its green infrastructure is built around strict protocols and hefty fines for incorrect waste disposal. With the importance of recycling being paramount, there are recycling drop-off points around many towns. A look around these towns will reveal cylinders that are clearly labelled glass, aluminium/metal and shopping bags. Special bags for household trash are sold at supermarkets and trash collection will only be made if these bags are used. Additionally, scheduled neighbourhood trash collection times are made for trucks to collect cardboard or paper or trash in the specially purchased bag from the supermarket. Even most grocery stores are involved in the going green process, with bins provided for recycling both PET and opaque bottles. Going green also has a trickle-down effect with involvement being seen at the community level in the form of composting for use in communal garden plots. 
 
Switzerland has also constructed Waste-to-Energy Plants to deal with rubbish disposal. These plants convert waste into electricity. The majority of waste that would normally go into a landfill is used as fuel for these plants, thereby solving the problem of finding space to dump waste, especially in cases where landfills are overflowing. Additionally, it is interesting to note that in doing this there will always be a reliable source of fuel as people will always generate waste and as such it is also a cost-effective venture. Current landfills can also be mined out and the landfill material be used as fuel.   
 
The example of Switzerland is an impressive one. Although the argument is not being made that Barbados adopt the same protocols as Switzerland and other countries that have gone green, there is a take-away point. What is clearly evident in these countries is that waste disposal is taken seriously and there are protocols in place to enforce waste management. This is what Barbados should be aiming for, we need to go back to the drawing board and look at how we view waste management and how important it is on our agenda. We must act now, take stock of the bigger picture and play our part in not only preserving our island, but in preserving the planet for generations and beyond!

Barbados Advocate

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

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