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(FP)

More homeowners and businesses are getting involved in recycling efforts across Barbados.

And, members of the public are being encouraged to come out in their numbers to the fifth annual Four R’s Fair (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) slated for Saturday, February 16, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, beginning at 10:00 a.m. This year’s event is being held under the theme: Partnerships for a more Sustainable Barbados, and is expected to further heighten the growing interest in recycling.

Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, is expected to deliver the feature address during the fair which is designed to bring together public and private sector exhibitors to highlight the recycling options available in Barbados.

Waste Management Coordinator at the Solid Waste Project Unit (SWPU), Thora Lorde, said a number of workshops would be held at the fair to teach individuals how to recycle and reuse their garbage. She added that there would also be a composting presentation to highlight the various materials that could be used to make compost. "The fair will be educationally focused," she noted.

She added that there were over 16 businesses from both the public and private sectors participating in the fair to either provide tips, products or services used in recycling. "The National Conservation Commission will be in attendance offering their plants for sale," the Waste Management Coordinator said. She further noted that the annual mini flee market would be a part of the event offering previously owned and new items for sale. For the children, she disclosed, the popular Waste Buster game would be back again this year to teach the young ones about discarding their garbage properly, and recycling, while adults could win a number of prizes.

She explained that the fair was expected to attract approximately 1,500 people who were involved in, or interested in the recycling process.

Project Manager with the SWPU, Ricardo Marshall, said a Knowledge Attitudes and Practice survey conducted last year showed that there was a general increase in the number of persons involved in recycling.

He explained that 75 per cent of households surveyed were involved in recycling, and 17 per cent in home composting. "Almost all of those interviewed who were not yet involved in the recycling effort said they would be willing to get involved," he observed, noting persons of all ages and across the board were recycling.

Mr. Marshall noted that while businesses were not specifically targetted during the survey, the project unit observed that there were a number of offices setting up programmes for staff to contribute to the effort. "There has definitely been a great and positive response," he said.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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