Editorial | Recycle: the new mantra

The effort by government to improve recycling habits across Jamaica deserves to be supported by all sectors, for it is good for the health, economic and environmental well-being of the nation.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently announced that ministries, departments and agencies of government will begin recycling solid waste in 2024. Such action will be a boost to the domestic recycling rate in a country which has sadly exhibited poor recycling habits. While we support this effort, we hope it will be properly resourced and monitored to ensure that the intended gains are realised.

Generally, waste management continues to be a significant challenge in the island, because the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has yet to come to grips with how to efficiently collect and dispose of tons of waste generated by domestic and industrial activities as urbanisation and economic activity increases.

The biggest problem appears to be an inadequate waste-collection infrastructure and lack of a proper sorting system. In a properly run waste management system, the ideal is to recover and recycle waste by using the appropriate technology.

The absence of a proper collection infrastructure and poor enforcement of the anti-litter law often result in the pile-up of garbage in many communities across the Corporate Area and major townships. The helplessness of the NSWMA has been cited repeatedly in this space. And there is nothing to suggest that this will change with the type of management that exists there.

An effective recycling system calls for regular collection, separate bins and safe and accessible recycling centres. When householders do their part by ensuring that they clean and sort waste, collection should be prompt.

SHORTCOMINGS

Because of the shortcomings of the NSWMA, waste material that is not collected in a timely manner is burnt or dumped in gullies where it can leak into waterways and, eventually, the ocean. For these reasons, we urge the government to complete the divestment of the waste management service to private sector interests as it has promised to do. Householders may have to brace for collection charges from operating entities, but it would be worth it to have garbage-free communities.

As dire as the local solid waste scenario appears, initiatives such as the newly opened recycling plant at Naggo’s Head, St Catherine will take Jamaica’s recycling goal forward. An example of a public private partnership, Recycling Partners of Jamaica is vowing to put plastic in its place. They have more than 350 drop-off locations in the island and, in 2022, collected some 120 million plastic bottles.

We are not forgetting also that Jamaica can claim success in the gradual reduction of single-use plastic for domestic purposes. The ubiquitous ‘scandal bag’ is rarely seen these days. We urge the government to introduce a robust public education programme which will have the effect of motivating people to first reuse and reduce the amount of waste they generate in their homes and offices, then they should recycle what is left.

Despite the best efforts of environmental bodies and lobby groups, there appears to be limited understanding of the benefits of recycling. We suggest that the environment ministry should be at the forefront of the recycling effort by illustrating to residents within their communities the proper ways to sort their waste, and how to recognise what items are considered dry, wet and hazardous waste.

We think we are right in assuming that the average Londoner generates more waste than the average Jamaican. And, the streets of London may appear dirty overnight, say after a huge football game, but, come next morning, the streets are as clean as a whistle, most likely done by vacuum-powered machines. Is it too much to wish that the streets of Kingston could get that kind of treatment in the near future?

Pollution emanating from waste affects the health of a community and has a significant impact on the economy. Fixing the economy is a priority, but we must also tackle environmental degradation with equal energy.