• Covid-19
  • Travel Protocols
  • Immigration & Customs Form
Saturday, February 4, 2023
SKNIS
  • Home
  • About
  • Press Releases
  • Parliament
  • In The News
  • Bills
No Result
View All Result
SKNIS
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

BIOSAFETY OFFICER WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT EXPLAINS PROCESS OF BIODEGRADATION OF PLASTICS

SKNISEditor by SKNISEditor
April 22, 2021
in Featured, In The News
BIOSAFETY OFFICER WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT EXPLAINS PROCESS OF BIODEGRADATION OF PLASTICS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Related posts

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis by the President of Caribbean Development Bank

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis by the President of Caribbean Development Bank

February 4, 2023
POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME PAYMENTS RESUME

POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME PAYMENTS RESUME

February 3, 2023

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2021 (SKNIS): As part of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis goal of promoting a ban on single-use plastics within the Federation, the Ministry of Environment is collaborating with multi-sector partners in educating about the dangers of plastics to human and environmental health.

Biosafety Officer within the Ministry of Environment, Vicia Woods, explained the process of the biodegradation of plastics during the ‘Working for You’ programme on April 21, 2021.  

“Biodegradation is the break down of plastics. Most of the time you would say that plastics are not biodegradable, but this is not entirely true because it takes such a long time to biodegrade, so for instance up to 100 years, plastics can take to break down, so we say that they won’t break down within our lifetime, so we class it as non-biodegradable.”

“There are now plastics that can break down within a number of years because these plastics are made from cornstarch, sugar cane, and a lot of other things that could replace these chemicals that would cause the plastics to breakdown much more easily than these other toxins that are usually put into the traditional plastics,” she said.

With the plastics from cornstarch and sugar cane, Ms. Woods explicated that “These plastics are broken down by the sun and not only the sun, but the other environmental elements help to break down as well.”

“Once heat gets to plastic, that causes the breakdown process, but traditional plastics won’t break down as easily. When they’re heated, they just release toxins so this breakdown will happen over a long period of time,” said Ms. Woods.

Non-biodegradable plastics pose a danger to human health and the environment. Non-biodegradable plastics often find their way into the ocean and harm seabirds, fish, and other marine life. Additionally, when fish and other marine life consume plastic, it can strangle and suffocate them, and also, they experience digestion problems. Microplastics, tiny bits of polypropylene or polyethylene, hide beneath the water and pose a risk as well.   

Also, products that do not decompose naturally remain in landfills and take up space much longer than biodegradable materials. A lot of plastics do not even make it to landfills but into parks, fields, forests, and the sea causing plastic pollution. Styrofoam, also known as foamed polystyrene, is a non-biodegradable substance that can cause environmental problems when it becomes litter. For instance, styrene, a neurotoxin at high doses, can leach out of polystyrene materials when temperatures rise.
-30-

Previous Post

ST. KITTS & NEVIS SHIPS THREE MORE CONTAINERS OF RELIEF SUPPLIES TO ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Next Post

SOME ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS BUSINESSES IN THE FEDERATION HAVE ALREADY STARTED USING ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

Next Post
SOME ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS BUSINESSES IN THE FEDERATION HAVE ALREADY STARTED USING ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

SOME ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS BUSINESSES IN THE FEDERATION HAVE ALREADY STARTED USING ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

WHAT'S HOT

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis by the President of Caribbean Development Bank

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis by the President of Caribbean Development Bank

February 4, 2023
POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME PAYMENTS RESUME

POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME PAYMENTS RESUME

February 3, 2023
GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO REFORM AND STRENGTHEN THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS LIFESTYLE PROGRAMME

Brief Opening Statement by Prime Minister The Hon. Dr Terrance M Drew
Special Interview on Matters of National Interest

Friday February 3rd, 2023

February 3, 2023

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Bills
  • Featured
  • In The News
  • Notices
  • Parliament
  • Press Releases
  • Register of Voters
  • Uncategorized

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Facebook Pagelike Widget

FOLLOW US

CATEGORIES

  • Bills
  • Featured
  • In The News
  • Notices
  • Parliament
  • Press Releases
  • Register of Voters
  • Uncategorized

CONTACT US

Government Headquarters
Church Street
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis 00265
(869) 467-1416

  • Government of St. Kitts & Nevis

© 2020 St. Kitts & Nevis Information Service. Developed by E-Government Unit

No Result
View All Result
  • Home

© 2020 St. Kitts & Nevis Information Service. Developed by E-Government Unit