By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE NATIONAL Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has expressed disappointment with the resistance to waste recycling that has come from a number of private and public sector companies and individuals across the island.
The agency which co-ordinates solid waste collection activities islandwide is warning that the slow pace by citizens of implementing proper recycling and waste management practices is retarding the island's enormous economic potential.
"Almost every beach in Jamaica that is not regularly cleaned is heavily littered with floating trash, plastic bags and bottles, paper, cloth, wood- all recyclable materials," said Percy Stewart, Regional Operations Manager at the NSWMA.
PREVAILING APATHY
He expressed concern at the prevailing apathy in the society towards the reuse of discarded material."There is a ready market for recycled products world-wide as well as in Jamaica even though there is resistance to acceptance from some quarters of the society," he said.
Jamaica produces roughly 945,496 tonnes of waste annually, and the NSWA has indicated that most of this waste is generated by households. The majority of this waste can be recycled.
"Fifty-five per cent of all waste produced in Jamaica is food waste which can be recycled into compost ... 97 per cent of all collected municipal waste is recyclable," Mr. Stewart said, as he cited the findings of studies done by his organisation which show that not more than five per cent of municipal solid waste is being recycled.
Data provided by the Norconsult Report commissioned by the Government in 1996, paint an even grimmer picture of Jamaica's wasted potential on the recycling front. It shows that less than one per cent of imported cardboard is recovered, bailed and exported, while only small quantities (measuring one per cent or less) of iron scrap and aluminium are recovered and sold locally.
But all is not lost. "The local recycling market is still in its infancy stage in Jamaica, of which most recycling activities are informal, but it is gathering momentum as the formal economy is starting to recognise recycling as a business opportunity with enormous economic potential," remarked Mr. Stewart.
The NSWMA reports that there are some promising yet fledgling developments in the automechanic and fuel industries, where some companies use small quantities of waste oil as fuel. In addition, about 45 per cent of all car batteries that are sold in the island are recovered and exported with the purpose of recovering the lead.
