Time for Govt to pick up recyclables

She spoke with Newsday about the project at Plastikeep’s offices in Maraval. On the origin of the project, Farmer, an anti-smelter activist back in 2006, recalled that she made a series of films with film-maker Elspeth Duncan about recycling and tree planting.

These films were introduced to a 4H club at a school in Sangre Grande which would collect bottles and have them picked up by the regional corporation and then taken to Recycling in Motion, a company that recycles and re-processes plastic waste. When Farmer saw all the machinery and the process, something “moved in my belly to do a recycling project”.

Plastikeep was launched through Green Light Network, which at the time was an ad hoc group of artists but was formalised to gain access to the Green Fund, the country’s national environmental fund. Farmer explained that the Green Fund is specific for communities and that is the reason that Plastikeep is restricted to the northwest area.

She said that the fund is well managed and monitored, but the bureaucracy of the system slows things down.

They submitted their Green Fund application in November 2008 and received their disbursement in February 2010.

They began with eight bins in Diego Martin and increased to 70, and had 93 collection sites providing access to the north west area. Besides plastics the project also collects recyclable aluminium cans in special bins.

The waste is taken via truck to companies for recycling. Farmer said that from the beginning of the project to the present the community has been a part of it and is a “saving grace”.

“A lot of buy in,” she added.

She explained that the previous People’s Partnership government did not know where they were going with Plastikeep and placed them in a “holding pattern” since September 2014 where they have remained since.

She the current delay is the non-appointment of the Green Fund board and reported that they have not had money from the beginning of this year. She has been informed that they could receive funding from the consolidated fund. In the interim, however, she lost her team of trained people and will have to start over with recruitment.

She said it is a “very difficult time” and they have been requesting donations and with the donations they have been able to put the truck on the road.

“So we hold it together and we wait,” she added.

She said that the model of bins in public spaces, which they have adopted, is not a sustainable one. She explained the purpose of the project was to have awareness, and recycling is this country must be done via kerbside.

Farmer recalled that last year the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL) brought a consultant on to transform the project.

She said they thought they would need a new fleet of trucks but they were informed that the garbage trucks could be washed on an evening and then go out and collect recyclables. She explained that an initial capital outlay is not required but just extra work and cleaning.

Farmer said she had thought by now that government would have been doing door-todoor pick up of recyclables and she would be able to move on to other projects.

“I want government to take it off my hands,” she added.

She explained that because of the lack of funding they have not been able to implement the full project. They have been implementing their administration, maintenance and labour but have not been able to do their education drive and capacity building, which is “what we are really about”.

In the future she hopes to have a recycling education centre for children to come in and learn.

“I believe if our children can visualise a future we will not have to do hard work,” she said.

On the economic benefits of recycling, Farmer pointed out that locally there is a lot of untapped potential in recycling industry to create jobs and wealth.

She cited Barbados as a country that is moving forward on recycling.

This country’s national instrument, the steelpan, is a repurposed oil drum and “we should be leading the recycling regionally and internationally,” she said.

On the state of this country’s recycling culture Farmer said that we have moved from innovators to early adopters and starting to get into the early majority; the other two levels are late majority and laggards. She stressed that once they have the early majority then the necessary shift will happen. It is about becoming responsible for our waste and manage it, she said.

“We will change as citizens,” she added.

If you would like to donate to Plastikeep you can make a donation to account number 340800531601 at any branch of Republic Bank Ltd and in the name of Greenlight Network.

For more info: 222-5514 or email plastikeep@ gmail.com.