Recycling on the islands

Tamara, Please take on the cause and post any info you discover. The lack of recycling drives me crazy. Don't people realize how finite the resources are on an island? How about a bottle bill? I'd vote for that. Thanks for your concern.

Not to be a contrarian or anything like that, but I have a question????????

Isn't one of the problems with recycling in the VI's the cost of moving the recyclables off island for further processing?

Don't mean to get into a pro or con discussion. Just think that I had heard that was one of the big problems.

I am sure that cost is a huge factor, but I consider it an excuse. With the knowledge we all have about the effects of these products sitting in landfills or polluting the earth with improper methods of disposal, I think it is something that warrants for further research and a movement to do something more about it.

I, fortunately, have always been able to load up and just carry it in my car to a recycling center where it goes off on its merry way- wherever that is....I need to educate myself on the process and then maybe a group of concerned citizens could make an impact on not only the USVI's but the Caribbean in general.

Stepping off soapbox now. LOL!!

Tamara

Well, it might be a very well warranted 'excuse' as you state.

Government entities in the US tend to turn over recycling responsibility to private business who then pay the municipality a for the recyclables. Private businessess tend not to set up a business if it doesn't make financial sense to the folks who run the business.

In the City of Los Angeles, the city collects the recyclables and has a private company separate the items. There are private entities where you turn over the items and make a few pennies per bottle or can. They are then moved somewhere.

The cost may be enormous on an island that doesn't have the facility to handle the conversion of the product.

Maybe you could look into starting a processing plant and resell that processed product to a manufacturer in the VI's for product.

I did a little bit of research since I made my last post and it seems that there were several plans, organizations and even some federal funds form the US govt. donated for this cause (not enough $, I'm sure) and not much has happened. Having not been there, I don't know if there was any program going on that got cut due to lack of funds or what. It seems that STX did have curbside pick up at one time for a small target area of the island. They may still, that is why I was asking about this.
Do they still have the drop off centers that pay of glass and aluminum?

I was also wondering if HOVENSA wouldn't be a great candidate to get on board with this. Great PR for a large corporation like that. Or the college...

I also found some info that Johnson & Johsnson, Colgate/Palmolive and some other corp. donated grant funds in Puerto Rico for this cause.

Anyway, I don't know enough about the process just yet, but was curious as a future resident about that. I will certainly keep researching the subject. Thanks for the input!

Tamara

Tamara, Hi, Steph here, I was wondering along the same lines. I just don't feel like I have enough "pull" to make something that big happen there, but I am willing to take on a project, I love projects, I just have ADD and get flustered and bored quickly.

We do have a recycling center on St. Croix: EZ Recycling. It's located in Peter's Rest next to the Public Works Dept. They accept aluminum cans and all non-ferrous metals. Part of their profits go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Croix. And yes, they do have to ship everything off of the island in trailers. It is costly; and they are not subsidized by the government. You can call them at #778-0100. So, save your cans and bring them to EZ Recycling or drop them off in any other containers that are placed at different locations around the island. Call them for more details. #778-0100

I am so glad I see so many people wanting to get active. I am a member of the St Croix Recycling Association and we have meetings once a month. Please visit the site at www.usvircd.org

If you went to the AG fair we had a booth there as well. EZ recycling is a big contributor to our group and we are getting Freecycle starting in a couple weeks. Our next meeting is March 4th at the Pearl B Larson elementary school. Meeting starts at 6 p.m.

See you there!

Thanks for info, Marlene!

I have included a link to the page for the STX recycling group

http://www.usvircd.org/STXRA/index.htm

I will certainly become an active member of your group when I get there!

Tamara

What is the St. Croix Recycling Association actually doing? Are you recycling anything? I know that EZ Recycling has been the only place on island reccycling cans and non-ferrous metals. What are you recycling and where?

We are getting the island more interested in recycling. Not everyone does it but if we get recycling containers set up at multiple locations for people to drop their cans in, all the better. We are working at getting a grant for composting on the island, targetting large green waste generators (landscapers, condos)
Hovensa has a large tract of land at Estate Pearl where they chip green waste and stockpile the mulch. Glass recycling is a future target we are hoping to get started, as well as Freecycling.

In the meantime, since EZ Recycling already has containers for aluminum cans around the island, why isn't anyone helping to promote what's already here? I've seen their containers at The Island Animal Clinic, at the Judith's Fancy gate, and outside of A to Z Paint store in Princess. I'm sure there are others elsewhere. Instead of talking about what we're going to do, why don't we use what we already have? Did you know that you can also recycle your plastic grocery bags by taking them to the Animal Shelter Flea Market and the Women's Coaltion Thrift store? You can also save & bring your newspapers to the Animal Shelter or any of the Animal Clinics on island. If you can get glass and plastic reclying going on St. Croix, that would be an added plus!

recycling???? please i heard on the radio this morning by our administrator and one of his lackeys that 10 different gov agencies are involved in the removal of 1 abandoned car.