{"id":305578,"date":"2023-07-21T10:29:55","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T14:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=305578"},"modified":"2023-07-21T10:29:55","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T14:29:55","slug":"cozier-targets-plastic-pollution-as-a-major-threat-to-health-and-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/cozier-targets-plastic-pollution-as-a-major-threat-to-health-and-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Cozier targets plastic pollution as a major threat to health and environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Minister Cozier Frederick addressing the ceremony earlier this week<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Plastic pollution continues to be a global crisis and therefore requires urgent action.<\/p>\n

This was according to Minister for the Environment, Cozier Frederick who was delivering the feature address during the launching ceremony of The RECYCLE OECS Demonstration Project this week. The Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC) is the implementation partner for the demonstration model in Dominica.<\/p>\n

In fact, he believes it is important that all member-states across the region address that problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlastic pollution is a global crisis and it therefore requires urgent action, but more importantly urgent collaboration among all sectors of society,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Frederick continued, \u201cAnd so, it appears to me that we all have a crucial role to play in leading the charge towards a sustainable and plastic-free society.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cIt affects our physical environment, but also it affects our health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederick indicated that the ocean is infested with plastics; it is endangering marine life and disrupting the entire ecosystem.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt impacts all island developing states and Dominica is no exception,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

Frederick believes that the time to act is now, but in order to do so there should be a clear understanding of the pathways and the synergies that can be harnessed across the value chain. Furthermore, he explained that after Hurricane Maria destroyed Dominica in 2017 the government took action and developed the Climate Resilience Recovery Plan (CRRP). He said this plan articulates the government’s mission to become the first climate-resilient country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe realize we can aspire to be such, but there are things that we have to do,\u201d Frederick stated.<\/p>\n

Firstly, he believes there must be a collective consciousness and secondly, \u201cwe must have corporate social responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the 2018-2019 National Budget address Prime Minister Skerrit spoke of a list of items to be banned from importation. These items include plastic forks, plastic plates, straws, cup lids, styrofoam plates, and styrofoam bowls banned from importation from January 1, 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we realized that this ban alone cannot address the plastic problem,\u201d he remarked. \u201cAnd this is why the Dominica Solid Waste Corporation has developed programs and initiatives and started a conversation to undertake the recycling of all available plastic material.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to state that waste diversion is a critical pillar in waste management.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so, waste diversion serves as a medium in transitioning from collecting, moving, dumping of waste to a more circular economic approach,\u201d Frederick explained.<\/p>\n

He said Dominica is the only country in the OECS that offers a daily collection of recyclable materials at the household level island-wide. Meantime, Frederick said that within the indigenous community, his ministry has enacted some waste management services, hoping to reduce waste within that space. He stated that the Kalinago Zero Waste Project forms part of these services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are doing is we have been able to procure and distribute over 70 plastic plates for recycling material, we have distributed more than 370 residential bins, we have done more than\u00a0\u00a0200 bales of reusable shopping bags,\u201d Frederick revealed.<\/p>\n