Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 04, 2022 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is one step closer to implementing its recycling initiative following the launch on Friday, March 04 at the Solid Waste Management Corporation Conference Room.
“The overall outcome of this project seeks to establish a recycling system to improve efficiency and increase the amount of waste recycled by twice the amount. Setting this systemic framework will be a foundational pillar to create efficient and collaborative pathways among our stakeholders and ultimately result in more environmentally-responsible actions from all of our citizens,” said Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, the Honourable Eric Evelyn. “This is the beginning of a mindset shift.”
Minister Evelyn said that the implementation of the “Solid Waste Management and Recycling Project” is a step “towards building a framework to address waste disposal practices.” He added that such a project is timely and significantly important to St. Kitts and Nevis.
“This project is timely for two main reasons. Firstly, it aligns with my ministry’s commitment to encourage our citizens to become better environmental stewards. We are acutely aware of the need to pay serious attention to the way in which we dispose of waste and the ever-niggling, but critical issues associated with waste separation and extensive waste contribute to environmental degradation,” said the minister.
He noted that the Ministry of Environment and Cooperatives is leading the charge to implement a ban on single use plastics through public awareness and stakeholder consultations. The exercise, he said, shares the common goal of reducing excessive waste as does the recycling project.
Minister Evelyn said that the Federation’s efforts will be boosted and become more visible as St. Kitts and Nevis endeavours to achieve Sustainable Development Goal #12: “Responsible Consumption and Production.”
“To achieve this goal, we must reflect on ways in which we can use our resources efficiently to reduce waste in a sustainable manner. It also points us to the possibilities of economic innovation for sustainability. Possibilities of packaging products using environmentally friendly material, diverse offerings of how to reuse plastics or any other product, the use of technology in reducing waste are all ways of reimagining how we can achieve resource efficiency,” he said.
His Excellency Michael C. H. Lin, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, said that the project was “conceptualized in line with international communities’ rising awareness of the importance of solid waste management.”
The US$ 1 million dollar project, which will run for three years, is aimed at reducing waste, enhancing sustainability, and promoting a healthy environment. It is being done in collaboration with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Solid Waste Management Corporation, (SWMC).
