We would like to thank to all our partners and 200 plus volunteers who heeded the call to join the global community for International Coastal Cleanup 2019," said the Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis at International Coastal Cleanup 2019,
Minister Robinson-Regis also stated that unfortunately citizens continue to exhibit improper waste disposal habits and despite several programmes designed to inculcate new habits, bad habits die hard.
Minister Robinson-Regis also urged citizens through the theme, 'Environmental Pride is National Pride’, to take personal responsibility for our homes, schools, offices, Islands, our Planet and consider how our actions may contribute to pollution and to think and act in a responsible manner. She also took the opportunity to remind fellow citizens that working together can solve our pollution challenges.
The Honourable Minister reiterated that the recently adopted Beverage Containers Deposit Refund Policy proposes to establish a deposit refund system for recyclable waste, with beverage containers being under the first remit. This legislation is scheduled to be laid in the Parliament by December 2019. Additionally Cabinet’s policy to ban the importation of non-biodegradable expanded polystyrene (EPS) or Styrofoam food and beverage containers, will come into full effect in January, 2020, and manufacture of same in Trinidad and Tobago will also be phased out thereafter.
Over 220 volunteers collected 2,090 pounds of garbage during the International Coastal Cleanup at the Foreshore, Audrey Jeffers Highway, and Port-of-Spain on Saturday 21st September, 2019. Volunteers represented numerous organisations including the SAGHS Alumnae Association, Basel Convention Regional Centre – Caribbean, Rotaract Piarco (U.W.I), Run Trinbago, Zèle Events, Ultra Concepts, Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Lions Club of Port-of-Spain North and RHAND Credit Union.
This foreshore clean up was coordinated by the Ministry of Planning and Development, through the Environmental Policy and Planning Division in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago.