Recycle Now Jamaica Launched

For me, this is such exciting news. Some time ago now (in fact, in January 2013) I wrote an article about the urgent need for recycling in Jamaica – especially with the curse of the plastic bottle upon us (just look at our coastline, our roadsides and gullies, choked with plastic). I hope that this ambitious public-private sector partnership will be efficient and sustained when up and running. I also hope that it will be supported by a robust public education program on waste disposal.

Jamaica’s environment is set to benefit over the next three years from over J$200 million in investments in a new national recycling initiative called “Recycle Now Jamaica”. This initiative, being spearheaded by a public/private partnership of the Government of Jamaica – through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) – and manufacturers, will reclaim  post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles through satellite depots around the island.

At the launch, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, Minister of Transport, Works & Housing, said, “This initiative represents an innovative co-operation between the public and private sector.” Recycle Now will employ 300 JEEP participants in the depots and as official collectors, but it is expected that many more Jamaicans will benefit by selling plastic waste to the organization, as well as other opportunities that will arise from the strengthening of the recycling industry.

Wisynco Chairman William Mahfood said that his company, along with other industry leaders, Pepsi -Cola Jamaica, GraceKennedy Foods and Services, Jamaica Beverages, Lasco, Trade Winds Citrus and Seprod, were proud to partner with the Government to develop and support a long term solution to plastic waste in Jamaica. Under a three year agreement, JEEP will contribute J$50 million per annum, while the group of manufacturers will contribute J$23.75 million per annum. It is expected that other manufacturers and partners will also come on board before operations commence in May 2014.

Mr. Mahfood noted that Wisynco, Pepsi and Jamaica Beverages, among others, had been involved in a smaller initiative “Recycle for Life” in the early 2000s but that this had closed with the introduction by the Government of the Environmental Cess. “We are all aware of the severe financial constraints that the Government faces,” said Mr. Mahfood. “Therefore, we believe that, at this time, it is in the nation’s best interest to volunteer our financial support to an initiative that has the potential to make a real difference both to the environment and to the earning potential of those in our society who are most in need.”

Caribbean Vice-President of CBC (bottlers of Pepsi-Cola in Jamaica and other Caribbean and Latin American countries) Mr Jose Sanabria, pointed to his company’s support of not only plastic recycling but further processing of recycled materials in countries such as Guatemala.  “We have seen how an initiative such as this can not only make the country more beautiful, but also help to nurture the development of manufacturing using recycled materials. We expect that this will also happen in Jamaica and be another positive effect of our investment .”

A non-profit  organization,  Recycling Partners of Jamaica, is projected to become self-sufficient through export revenues from the baled plastic, with surpluses reinvested into expanding the reach and efficiency of the local recycling industry as well as environmental awareness and education programs.

Recycling Partners of Jamaica will establish satellite depots in strategic locations around the island on property provided by the Government of Jamaica to facilitate collection by JEEP participants and other recycling collectors at major towns and adjacent disposal sites. These depots will be the facilities where collectors will be paid for the reclaimed PET waste on a weight basis. The PET will then be baled and transported to the Consolidation and Logistics Hub in Kingston from which the baled plastic will be exported to markets such as China, the U.S. and elsewhere. Future plans include expanding the types of materials collected to include HDPE, PVC, paper and other materials as well as developing a route collection program as is feasible on a phased basis.

The organization will be managed by a Board of Directors made up of Government representatives and private sector stakeholder representatives, which will oversee the operations headed by an independent management team.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Odette Dixon-Neath

CGR Communications

977-5060/FAX: 977-4984

odixon@cgrjamaica.com

Garbage dumped in Kingston’s Sandy Gully. Not only is this a public health hazard but also it exacerbates flooding during heavy rains. The gully drains into Kingston Harbour. bringing the garbage with it and contributing to the harbor’s pollution. (Photo: Norman Grindley/Gleaner)