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A question we almost always receive, especially from new recyclers, is what happens to the plastics we collect. To answer that, let’s go on a journey together- the journey of a plastic bottle. In more developed countries, recycling facilities are far more advanced and the practice is even mandated by the authorities. This leads to reduced land pollution, improper waste disposal, and monetary gains for recyclers.
In general, plastics that are collected are taken to a recycling facility where they are hot washed to be cleaned and then shredded into flakes. These plastic flakes are then further processed to make raw materials for other products. These products range from toys, building and roofing materials to clothing and new plastic containers.
In Jamaica, the journey of our plastic is a little different. Unfortunately, due to a severely underdeveloped recycling industry and low public buy-in to the habit of recycling, plastics may take a few ‘side steps’ before getting to a recycling depot.
Challenges we face
Waste separation is a new habit for many Jamaicans and as the saying goes, “old habits die hard.” Pollution due to improper waste disposal is still a widespread problem, continuing to threaten the natural environment.
Much of the plastic we receive for recycling comes from coastal clean-up exercises carried out by committed volunteers.
If we recycled, these plastics would never be caught floating in the sea or blocking a drain that leads to flooding. We can stop the plastics from getting to the waterbodies in the first place.
Coupled with that, the industry on a whole suffers from poor infrastructure and technological development as well as no government mandates.
The plastics collected locally stem from a mission to remove 85% of the 800million plastics produced in Jamaica. These plastics are taken to our depots for sorting, they are then baled and exported to continue the recycling process of being hot washed and then shredded into plastic flakes.
This is the solution
Recycling is a habit that starts with a simple choice. Plastic has become a part of our lives in more ways than we realize. We can reduce its negative impact by choosing to separate our wastes and dispose of them properly. We can skip the ‘side steps’ of improper disposal, the pollution of our coastline or being buried at a landfill for hundreds of years.
Separating plastics at home, school, work and at social areas would allow for a simpler process of collection to get these plastics to the recycling depot. The impact of plastic on our environment and livelihood could be more positive. Plastic recycling is simply the environmentally beneficial journey of plastics that can provide a stream of income and support other industries such as manufacturing leading to economic development
Just start…
Make the change today!
