KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda, says the Government continues to support national recycling efforts.

Speaking during a statement to the Senate on Friday, June 7, Senator Samuda said Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ) has now achieved an average 35 per cent recovery rate on the national monthly production of plastics.

“Meaning, for all bottles produced, we are now recycling 35 per cent of them on a monthly basis. This is on the back of a new plant commissioned in Portmore just last year. We further expect RPJ to be breaking ground in Mandeville [for] a second plant,” he said.

The minister noted that Jamaica is targeting a recycling recovery rate of 70 per cent, adding that the Government will work with all stakeholders to achieve this over the next three years.

Senator Samuda also used the opportunity to highlight Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ commitment to institute a waste separation and recycling programme within the public sector.

“Indeed, this will happen this year and the programme is well underway. The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) have been implementing a separation at source programme in 18 communities within the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA),” he shared.

Senator Samuda said the expansion of this initiative is contingent on further improvement in the waste collection and transportation infrastructure.

The minister noted that strengthening the commitment to public-private partnerships (PPP) is also another pillar of the administration’s strategy.

“The Government continues to support the GraceKennedy Foundation-led Kingston harbour clean-up initiative. They have already done traps at seven gullies and have a barge that clears solid waste from this space… and they are about to take on the Sandy Gully. So the engineers are actually doing the designs now to put in that system that will trap waste as well as the entry points for that barge and heavy equipment behind to clear waste which illegally and unfortunately does enter that gully,” Senator Samuda said.

Meanwhile, the ministry, in collaboration with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will, during the current fiscal year, be strengthening the policy and legislative frameworks relating to waste management.

These include amendments to the Wastewater and Sludge Regulations and the Air Quality Regulations under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act.

“To increase compliance with the environmental laws, the Ministry will shortly bring to the House, amendments to the NRCA [Act] and the Wildlife Protection [Act] to allow for an increase in fines and custodial sentences,” Senator Samuda stated.

— JIS