A challenge has been issued for residents of Barbados to step up their recycling efforts to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and preserve the environment.

And, Government is leading the charge in this regard with the launch of its Green Waste Collection Programme at the Ministry???s Warrens Tower II, Warrens, St. Michael headquarters yesterday.

Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, launched the programme along with the new logo for the Sanitation Service Authority.

Citing the work done by the Project Management Coordination Unit (formerly the Solid Waste Project Unit), recyclers and waste brokers on the island to manage and reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill, Dr. Lowe said the introduction of the SSA???s green collection service and service vehicle would complement ongoing Government and private sector efforts.

???This effort seeks to expand the collection service of recyclables and is the next step in a partnership that seeks to significantly increase the ability of persons to effectively participate in recycling through the separation of waste at home,??? he stated.

The Minister explained that the green collection vehicle would be introduced to routes from Monday and would be outfitted with a special service crew, serving the island???s five zones ??? north, south, east, west and The City.

Noting that traditionally recycling was private sector driven, but public sector regulated, Dr. Lowe stressed that the time had come for all hands on deck, and involve homeowners, schools, churches, social clubs, media houses, businesses and Government offices.

To further facilitate the process, Dr. Lowe pointed out that Government was presently pursuing amendments to the Returnable Containers Act established in 1986 to expand the range of items covered under the legislation.

He explained that when it was first established, the Act provided for the control of sale of beverages in beverage containers, the payment of a deposit on beverage containers and a refund for the return of those containers and the final disposal of unused or unusable containers.

???It has been instrumental in the way in which we treat recyclables today and the growth of the recycling industry in Barbados,??? he said, noting that the Act was responsible for the ???almost today disappearance of the littering of beverage bottles across the country???.

The new SSA logo was designed by Gabrielle Hurdle of the Princess Margaret Secondary School following a logo competition. Her work of art earned her the distinction of not only seeing her design on all SSA brands, but also $2,000.

Meanwhile, second place went to Tymara King of Queen???s College, while third place went to Maliek Reece also of Princess Margaret. They each received a cheque for $1,000 and $750, respectively. Kiara Smith of the Springer Memorial School received a certificate and a $500 cash prize for producing the Best Mascot piece.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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