Make plastic bottle refund scheme attractive

Many will interpret such a demeanor as brash and cocky, but having had the privilege of working with the young politician in the past in my professional capacity, such a view is far from the truth in my humble opinion.

It therefore didn’t come as a surprise to me when Mr. Samuda led the charge in the Senate for the national ban on using plastic bags of certain dimensions and other polyethylene-made products within such a relatively quick timeframe given how our politicians can be laissez-faire a lot of the times when dealing with matters of national importance.

Mr. Samuda ought to be commended for his persistence in getting our lawmakers to at least begin the process to rid the environment of this unwanted trash that has been scientifically proven of doing our planet more harm than good.

I have, however, taken important note of Mr. Samuda’s plan to institute a cash refund scheme for plastic bottles, similar to what obtains with our Desnoes and Geddes-brand bottles here or recycled cans in the United States of America.

Indeed this is a very important step, which again must be applauded though the idea is not a novelty.

What has grabbed my attention, though, is the $1 cess private sectors leading the recycling movement are offering in return for a plastic bottle with the aim of raising $850 million this year.

As noble and ambitious such an ideal may be, a $1 cess per bottle is far from encouraging more Jamaicans from seeing the need to cash-in their plastic bottles. Simply put a refund scheme offering $1 return for a plastic bottle is too cheap and perhaps, is the very reason why so few people are inclined to join the movement. The effort and time is just not worth it many have argued.

Manufacturer of plastic products and distribution company Wisynco have been doing a tremendous job with its recycling programme targeting the schools, but still our drains, rivers, gullies; streets are littered with an abundance of plastic bottles.

Compare that with the $20 cash refund placed on D&G bottles and the stark difference is clear as night and day.

How often do you see a D&G bottle on the roadways or sidewalks? Very rare I can tell you and if you do see one it is swiftly removed by someone who knows too well of the financial benefit.

My suggestion therefore to Mr. Samuda and other stakeholders, is for a start, to make plastic bottles refundable at $20 minimum and the sight of plastic bottles splattered about will quickly become a distant memory because the reward is so attractive.

And yes, some will rightly argue that it is sad as a people we have to resort to such a method in order to get more people ‘buy’ into this whole plastic refund scheme. But it is what it is.