Zoo turns trash into valuable items

The Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ZSTT) has already reduced the amount of trash sent to the overflowing landfill sites by more than 60 percent utilising those items that are recyclable. The large quantities of plastics and other miscellaneous items including styrofoam were received by the ZSTT at its temporary recycling facility at the Emperor Valley Zoo for conversion to useful items.

Confirming this was the President of the ZSTT, Gupte Lutchmedial who indicated that the collected waste was already being processed using a special grinder for recyclables. “This is only the first part of a process to shred the waste and then we add value by converting this to useful functional items such as benches, flowerpots, planters, etc”, Lutchmedial stated.

He added, “In the making of one bench which is on display at the Zoo, 10,000 bottles were used and the impact of this on the environment cannot be downplayed.” The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat has expressed support for the initiative and was present at the Zoo to assist in the process.

He is encouraging the Zoo to expand its efforts especially as this will reduce the number of plastic bottles and other persistent waste materials from reaching our rivers and seas.

In further explaining the rationale behind this initiative, Lutchmedial explained that this is not a business venture for the Zoo, but a means to contribute to the abatement of a crisis facing the environment. “If the ZSTT can do its part to put less bottles and plastics in the environment, then this is reward enough,” he concluded.