Kingston College once again proved to be a leader in making positive changes in Jamaica after DECS Waste Management Services launched its “Recycle in Schools Project” at the school's North Street Campus, on Friday, November 4, 2011.
The programme is the brainchild of Managing Director of DECS Waste Management Services, Sheldon Beckford, who is a Kingston College past student and a member of the Fortis Pavilion.
The recycle programme at KC is a collaborative effort involving DECS Waste Management Services, the Fortis Pavilion and the Kingston College Key Club.
As part of the pilot project, DECS has placed five recycle bins on each campus, and is working through the KC Key Club to ensure that students and staff separate their garbage and put only plastic bottles in the designated bins at all times. The Kingston College Key Club is to make reports to the Fortis Pavilion on how the bins are being used, and the Fortis Pavilion will in turn make recommendations to DECS Waste Management Services on how the programme can be enhanced.
Mr. Beckford says, "The Recycle in Schools Project is part of a bold move by DECS to create a culture of recycling and environmental protection among the current and future generations of Jamaicans."
DECS decided to start the project at the early childhood, primary and high school levels to ensure that the transformation takes place and is sustained well into the adult life of each student.
The DECS Managing Director says, "Apart from putting several recycle bins in the schools, DECS will be having prolonged public education campaigns to ensure that the programme is sustained."
Twenty (20) schools have been targeted for phase one of the project, and over 3 million dollars have been earmarked to carry out the programme, which will include the collection of the recyclable waste from the sites twice per week over a three year period.
In phase one of the project, DECS will focus on plastic bottles, which can threaten marine life and have other adverse effects on the natural environment when not disposed of properly.
President of the Kingston College Old Boys Association, Dr. Ray Fraser, urged Jamaicans, especially the youth population, to protect and preserve their natural environment.
His call was supported by President of the Fortis Pavilion, Wayne Robertson, Acting Principal of Kingston College, Everton Burrell, and Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Joan Gordon Webley, who all spoke at the launch.
DECS intends to explore the recycling of waste paper in the near future.