Solid Waste and the Green Agenda

Feb 26, 2017 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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Solid waste management is an essential component of Guyana’s green agenda. Every Guyanese can play a part in reducing the amount of waste that goes into our landfills every single day by reusing products where necessary and learning how to recycle home, office and industrial waste.
The time has come for a national education campaign on the three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle. This campaign will have as it goal, teaching citizens the benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling. The three R’s all help to cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must use to dispose of waste in landfills.

REDUCE
The best way to manage waste is to not produce it. This can be done by shopping carefully, making different choices and being aware of a few guidelines:
· When you can afford it, buy products in bulk. Larger, economy-size products or ones in concentrated form use less packaging and usually cost less per ounce.
· Avoid over-packaged goods, especially ones packed with several materials such as foil, paper, and plastic. They are difficult to recycle, plus you pay more for the package.
· Avoid disposable goods, such as paper plates, cups, napkins, razors, and lighters. Throwaways contribute to the problem, and cost more because they must be replaced again and again.
· Buy durable goods – ones that are well-built or that carry good warranties. They will last longer, save money in the long run and save landfill space.
· At work, make two-sided copies whenever possible.
· Maintain central files rather than using several files for individuals.
· Use electronic mail or main bulletin board.
· Remove your name from the mailing lists of materials you no longer want to receive.
· Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
· Use a dish cloth instead of paper towels.

REUSE
It makes economic and environmental sense to reuse products. Sometimes it takes creativity:
· Reuse products for the same purpose. Save paper and plastic bags, and repair broken appliances, furniture and toys.
· Reuse products in different ways. Use a Tupperware container to pack a lunch; use plastic microwave dinner trays as picnic dishes.
· Sell old clothes, appliances, toys, and furniture, or donate them to charities.
· Use resealable containers rather than plastic wrap.
· Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of paper cups.
· Reuse grocery bags or bring your own cloth bags to the store. Do not take a bag from the store unless you need one.

RECYCLE
Recycling is a series of steps that take a used material and processes, remanufactures, and sells it as a new product. Begin recycling at home and at work:
· Buy products made from recycled material. Look for the recycling symbol or ask store managers or salesmen. The recycling symbol means one of two things – either the product is made of recycled material, or the item can be recycled. For instance, many plastic containers have a recycling symbol with a numbered code that identifies what type of plastic resin it is made from. However, just because the container has this code does not mean it can be easily recycled locally.
· Consider purchasing recycled materials at work when purchasing material for office supply, office equipment or manufacturing.
· Speak to store managers and ask for products and packaging that help cut down on waste, such as recycled products and products that are not over packaged.
· Use recycled paper for letterhead, copier paper and newsletters.
For the final R (recycle) to be practiced effectively, the culture of recycling must first be developed in Guyana. Most of the waste that we send to our landfills can be recycled. Municipalities and local democratic areas must educate residents on the benefits of recycling, teaching them how to recycle while engaging waste management companies that recycle with new contracts and dumping the ones that simply dump our waste.
Solid waste companies must buy into the concept of recycling, realizing the environmental and economic benefits. Companies must be encouraged to invest in equipment that facilitates compartmentalization of waste. New industries must seize the opportunity to make money out of recycled items, like paper, aluminum, glass and plastic.
Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils should be encouraged to set up collection centres and curbside pickup services for separated waste. These can include metal cans, newspapers, paper products, glass, plastics and oil.
Businesses must be encouraged to recycle, for it is the easiest and most effective way to save money and contribute to a sustained future. In the short term recycling conserves natural resources. In the long term, it offsets higher transportation costs by reducing business waste sent to the landfill.

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