Govt. needs to do something about plastics littering

Nov 09, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Is it not time for the Government to create an enabling environment for businesses to solve the massive problem of water/juice/soft drink plastic bottles littered all over Guyana? This sort of business can easily be started in a garage, the foreign recycling equipment is cheap to purchase; however, the trucks/vehicles to collect littered bottles for recycling are expensive items for this kind of business.

As far as I am aware there are no local plastic recycling businesses in Guyana that focus on recycling plastic bottles. If so, most of us have not seen plastic bottle recycling bins in most public spaces for citizens to dispose of their plastic bottles. We just throw them on the streets, where they are left uncollected. Why is this country, regardless of location, littered with plastic bottle rubbish? Why does this small oil rich country have this problem? The bottom line for any business is the profit margin, but the profit margin for recycling bottles and reselling the end products is very slim. The second hurdle is, even the market for recycled bottles in Guyana is small. Those businesses using plastic bottles already have their existing sources (I guess); so, accessing this market is difficult. In summary, not many people are going to want to undertake this venture. It is, therefore, necessary that the Government offers sufficient grants and other financial incentives for citizens to start plastic bottle recycling businesses countrywide.

Recently, we see that Guyana will be a top tourist destination for 2023, which is a few weeks from now, so the question needs to be asked specifically to the Ministry of Tourism, and other Ministers living comfortably – Exactly what impression of Guyana are we to give this huge wave of tourists, expected to come here?. As it is, some foreigners who stay at the Princess Ramada, a hotel that is highly recommended, can be heard commenting on the amount of water/juice and other plastic bottles littered along the entire length of Red Road which passes Massey stores. Most guests there are foreign business people, including Guyanese who live abroad. Guyana is far behind its plastic recycling efforts, and the problem with littered plastic bottles in the entire nation, in and out of Georgetown- is a BIG mess. City Hall, based on its track record, cannot take care of this problem, so the final question to ask is who is going to take care of this mess, in a country that is designated to be a top tourist destination next year? Or is it not important enough.

Chi Kansi

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