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Launch of the Timmy Turtle storybook

ISWMP

The Solid Waste Project Unit assisted with the production of the "Timmy Turtle and the Litterbugs" storybook which was written by Susan K Haynes-Elcock. Feature address delivered by Dr. the Honourable Jerome Walcott, Minister of Health at the launch of the storybook “Timmy Turtle and the Litterbugs” – Wednesday March 15th, 2006 at the Turtle Beach Resort It gives me great pleasure to deliver to you this morning the feature address on behalf of the Solid Waste Project Unit for the launch of the story book “Timmy Turtle and the Litterbugs” which is an important initiative of the Solid Waste Project. Over the years, the Solid Waste Project Unit under the Education and Public Awareness component of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme has sought to be innovative in introducing persons, whether they are students, teachers, members’ of community groups, church groups or the general public to proper waste management practices. The Project Unit recognises that each group of persons addressed is different and so the approach needs to be varied. The result is that each initiative is specifically targeted to its audience and some of these initiatives include: ▫ The Guide to the Integration of Solid Waste Management into the School Curriculum, a tool that assists teachers of all subject areas to incorporate solid waste management into their lessons. ▫ The interactive software – Choices Choices and Decisions Decisions – which help primary and secondary students respectively to learn not only about solid waste management but to illustrate the consequences of the choices they make by presenting them with interesting scenarios. ▫ The Solid Waste Website – www.solid.gov.bb, which is highly rated I am told, on the world wide web for solid waste management education, which contains information on the initiatives of the project unit as well as more detailed information on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme and solid waste management in general. ▫ There is a solid waste brochure series from one to eight, with information on how you can green your office, practice home composting and reduce your waste line. ▫ In March 2005, the Project Unit launched the Solid Waste Colouring and Activities Book which was specifically geared towards children between the ages of 2 and 7 years and of course ▫ The Project Unit’s library which contains books on waste management and recycling suitable for students from the primary through to tertiary stage and is available for use at the Unit. Before you leave here this morning I invite you to view the display and see the wonderful work that the project unit is doing. The Solid Waste Project Unit has responsibility for implementing the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme, a long term programme that encompasses the entire island. However it is very important that we have all of the stakeholders involved in this programme if it is to be successful. The Programme has two components. I have mentioned aspects of the non-physical component earlier in the form of the Educational and Public Awareness Programme. Other components include the physical component which is comprised of the new Sanitary Landfill, the Transfer Station with Materials Recovery Facility, the In-vessel Composting Facility and the Chemical Waste Storage Facility of which I have been speaking about recently and you will hear much more over the coming months. At the heart of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme is the principle of the 3Rs, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It is imperative to stress the importance of reducing the quantity and toxicity of waste that we produce. We can do this by being conscientious shoppers and choosing products that are of good quality but with less packaging resulting in less waste being generated. Secondly we need to reuse items as much as possible before disposing of them and thirdly of course is recycling. The Project Unit is currently embarking on a viable recycling programme geared at removing several items from of the present waste stream to be used as resources, thereby reducing the amount of waste to be disposed of and increasing the life span of the sanitary landfill. The Project Unit does not carry out solid waste management in isolation but works closely with other agencies within the Ministry of Health such as the Sanitation Service Authority – which has responsibility for collection, transportation and disposal of municipal solid waste and the Environmental Health Division – which as far as solid waste management is concerned is responsible for monitoring and enforcement. Let us not forget the vital contribution of the Environmental Protection Department of the Ministry of Housing Lands and Environment, responsible for environmental monitoring and pollution control. Together these departments are currently implementing a project under the theme “National Implementation through Individual Action” geared at reducing the number of illegal dumps across the island by cleaning these areas as well as going into communities on a structured basis to remove bulk refuse. At the end of this exercise it is hoped that the Ministry of Health would have fostered positive sustainable relationships with the wider community to ensure that individuals take the lead in monitoring and maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Taking into account that Barbados is a small island with limited land area it is necessary to ensure the long life of the waste disposal facilities and we believe that given the long term nature of the problem associated with solid waste management, it is paramount that the youth of today are involved in any waste management programme. Concomitantly adults have the duty of care to ensure not only that we deliver to them a clean and sustainable environment, but also to instil in them the knowledge to manage it. As you would have heard the Solid Waste Project is committed to educating the nation’s youth about proper solid waste management and the reason that we are here today is to launch yet another education initiative. The book “Timmy Turtle and the litterbugs” created by local Author Susan Haynes-Elcock seeks to expose the nation’s youth to the importance of proper solid waste management in a fun and creative way that just like its fore runner the Solid Waste Colouring and Activities Book is typically Barbadian…100% Bajan. The book speaks of the dangers of littering and illegal dumping to the health of people and the natural environment. This interactive book also features an activity section which teaches children about composting including how to build a composter and how to make compost and much more. This book will definitely be a valuable addition to the classroom teaching aids. This project, shared between Ms. Haynes-Elcock and the project unit is testament to our commitment to fostering public and private sector partnerships. A commitment that is outlined in the Unit’s mission statement. If you look around this morning you will see representatives of primary schools from across the island as well as representatives from both public and private sector agencies. This is not by accident as solid waste management affects our lives at all levels and we effect solid waste management through our attitudes and practices at the school, workplace and household level. It is anticipated that the materials presented today will assist in the inculcation of better waste management practices in the school and these effects would reverberate to the workplace, home environment and the wider community. Sound solid waste management is the responsibility of all of us and we at the Ministry of Health look forward to working with you present today and all residents of our country to improve solid waste management in Barbados. I commend the Solid Waste Project Unit on this initiative and exhort them to continue to be creative as they carry the message of comprehensive solid waste management to all Barbadians as we strive for a cleaner Barbados. Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen.