VI urged to recycle & reduce the use of plastics
As the Territory observed World Environment Day on June 5, 2023, Premier Wheatley said the overuse and improper disposal of plastics is one of the gravest threats to the planet and is calling on everyone to do their part in protecting the environment.
22% of VI waste is plastic
The Premier, according to a press release from Government Information Services (GIS), said twenty-two percent (22%) of waste in the Virgin Islands is plastics and sixty percent (60%) of what currently ends up in the recycling bins is plastic water bottles.
“Everyone must remember to do their part, not only on this day, but every day,” the Premier said.
Dr the Honourable Wheatley added, “As residents of these beautiful Islands, we are privileged to live, in a place where we can still enjoy fresh air, lush green mountains, and pristine clear blue waters, pollution free. It is our duty, however, to ensure that we continue to protect our environment at all costs so that generations after ours can continue to enjoy our beautiful environment.”
The Ministry responsible for Natural Resources is encouraging other ministries and their departments, as well as statutory bodies, the private sector and the entire community to join the movement to reduce plastic use and increase recycling efforts.
Protecting environment is everybody's business- Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley added that the efforts to protect the environment should be the business of each person living in the Virgin Islands.
“As a tourist-oriented Territory, residents need to be aware that a clean environment makes this Territory an even more preferred destination, thus strengthening our tourism product and the economy,” Mr Smith-Berkeley said.
This year’s theme for World Environment Day focused on the solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.
Globally, some 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated per year. Fifty percent (50%) of all plastic produced is designed to be used just once, such as water bottles, plastic bags and most food packaging.
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9 Responses to “VI urged to recycle & reduce the use of plastics”
The responsability is yours
Stop allowing plastic stray,and plates and others into your islands.
That will be a 1st start
Sure, it's a huge shame seeing people buy crates of single-use plastic-bottled water, but people obviously see that as the most convenient way to consume water, and it's hard to blame them. As others have said, simply 'urging' people is completely impotent - the government needs to develop and implement a wide-reaching, properly considered and robust waste management plan (which would necessarily include improving potable water access, among many other things) to see any improvement.
Ideally, the supermarkets wouldn’t give out any plastic bags.