RECYCLE For Life (RFL) is set to expand its focus to include the recycling of waste oils, gas cylinders, cardboard and paper.

Executive director for RFL, Bevon Morrison, made this announcement recently at the RFL’s Celebrity Beach Clean Up at the Gun Boat and Buccaneer beaches in Kingston.

The announcement comes days after three companies –Cool Runnings Water Limited, Shell West Indies Limited and Premier Waste — joined the non-governmental organisation as its newest members.

RFL and a team of volunteers from several local companies, government agencies and high schools, removed several bags of garbage and PET plastics brought into the Kingston Harbour after the recent heavy rains.

Morrison highlighted the need that RFL has been conscious of the need to widen its net of activities to include other waste materials as was indicated in the clean- up exercise.

In the meantime, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) executive director, Camille Needham, endorsed RFL’s beach cleanup. She said the JHTA is in full support of the entire effort as tourism is dependent on a pristine and attractive environment.

“These are the types of efforts that we want to encourage and are in keeping with what we have been doing in other areas,” she said.

Chief executive officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Franklyn McDonald, in commenting on the clean-up exercise said, “NEPA is very pleased to endorse the event and be associated with the beach cleanup and recycling activities which are being pursued islandwide by Recycle For Life. Jamaica our land of wood and water is being adversely affected in many ways by the burden of solid waste, which is inappropriately disposed of by commercial activities, households and the travelling public without due consideration for the effects on our land and marine environment. Solid waste particularly plastic bottles and packaging, carelessly thrown in open lots and drains inevitably end up in the sea, wetlands and our beaches.”

The Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association and the Jamaica Exporters’ Association, who also participated in the clean-up exercise registered their support of RFL’s mandate in recycling and litter reduction, particularly as environmental management practices have become more relevant in the competitive world market.