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Brief Remarks by Ricardo Marshall Project Manager - Solid Waste, at the launch of 'Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful'

ISWMP

Project Manager - Solid Waste, Ricardo Marshall addressing the official launch of "Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful". The Solid Waste Project Unit is pleased to see you all here this morning for the launch of our Colouring and Activities Book “Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful”. Not all here today might immediately see the connection between primary school education, the development of a colouring book and solid waste management. When most persons think of solid waste management they think of landfills, the Sanitation Service Authority and the garbage collection schedule in their area. While these are important they represent only part of the solid waste management programme for Barbados. In addition to the physical components of the programme there are complementary non-physical components. These include; • Policy development to provide for the proper implementation of the programme • An economic aspect • Institutional Strengthening of key government agencies • Drafting new legislation and revision of existing legislation • Public awareness, outreach and education The colouring and activities initiative represents just one activity under the public awareness, outreach and education component. The Unit utilizes the KAP approach, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices. Most residents of Barbados know what we should and should not do. We know illegal dumping and littering are wrong, but do we do what is right? Individual action is key and we must be willing to take responsibility for our actions as individuals and understand the impact that each individual can have. Public and private sector agencies have critical roles to play, but as individuals we can have an even greater impact. The easiest way to decrease the negative impact of garbage on our society is to reduce the volume and toxicity of the garbage we generate. The easiest way to do this is to follow the 3 R’s approach: • Reduce • Reuse • Recycle It is a hierarchy so the order is important. First we must through sensible and environmentally friendly purchasing practices reduce the amount and of waste we produce along with the toxicity of the waste. We should then seek to reuse as much of that material as we can. Barbados is still a reuse society. If you have your doubts, how many of you can say that if I came into your house I would not find mayonnaise or jam jars, margarine tubs and ice-cream containers being used for other purposes? We should then seek to recycle what is left back after our reduction and reuse. This includes composting – The breakdown of organic material to produce a soil additive for use in our gardens and for potting of household plants. A useful product out of our vegetable and fruit skins, rinds and peelings, our grass, leaves, twigs, coffee grounds, tea bags, sawdust and the like. Only after we have reduced, reused and recycled all we can should we properly set out what remains as garbage for collection. Proper solid waste management practices must become second nature. It is for this reason the Solid Waste Project Unit has embarked on a formal and in-formal public awareness, education and outreach targeting all sectors of our population. It is with your help and through individual actions that we can Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful. Thank you.