Guyana has great potential in recycling - President Ramotar - at launch of CCI ‘Eco Pak’, biodegradable products

Georgetown, GINA, August 4, 2012 -- Source

In a bid to support Government in it drive and efforts to sustain and maintain a clean and healthy environment, through the provision of proper disposal mechanisms and technology, the Caribbean Containers Inc., today launched a line of bio degradable products ‘Eco Pak’. The ‘Eco Pak’ products consist of bio-degradable table wares, including bowls, boxes and cups.

Head of State Donald Ramotar while speaking at the launch at the company’s factory at Farm, East Bank Demerara pledged Government’s support toward realising the success of the new environmentally friendly initiative.

President Donald Ramotar addressing the gathering at the launch of a new line of biodegradable table wares ‘Eco Pak’ at Caribbean Containers Inc, Farm, East Bank Demerara

“I am very happy to associate myself with this activity because of how important I see this whole question of recycling…has become extremely important in our world today and in our country,” President Ramotar said.

The initiative lends support to the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, in creating a cleaner and healthier environment for citizens and, against this background, President Ramotar urged that recycling should become a part of the Guyanese culture, changing the ways citizens dispose of their garbage.

“I hope this can serve as effective demonstration for other business entities to also do similar things like these in recycling… that could help to deal very much with our environment,” the President said. 

He has committed that his Administration is ready to use Government resources, and give tax free concession to persons wishing to invest and set up recycling plants for plastics and Styrofoam. This, he said will be very helpful in tackling the problem of improper garbage disposal and other materials that could be recycled.

President Donald Ramotar inspecting table wares - Eco Pak’. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds looks on

Elaborating on the topic of recycling, President Ramotar said, “only a few weeks ago I visited the building expo and I saw the great possibilities that we have in using many materials we see as nuisance in our streets and cast all round in our environment and to see things that could be done with them”.

Urging that more businesses should invest in recycling, he said, “People in the business sector should take these opportunities and I think this would be a business that would grow in the future because when we look around the world we see that garbage and, not only garbage but other types of materials growing rapidly,” he  explained.

As the economy grows and science and technology improves, other materials would be coming on stream, the President said.

“As you have seen recently the report from the IMF…the team that has just been here…we are moving very quickly now and the momentum is beginning to pick up and therefore I anticipate that more and more businesses will be looking for new materials and new things to do,” the President said.

In light of this, he said Guyana would have to find ways and means of removing garbage so that citizens can enjoy a clean and healthy environment.

Recycling, the President said is one very effective means, since it will not only help to sustain a clean environment but, also generate income and employment.     

This, he noted will also reduce the burden being placed on the landfill site to dispose of non biodegradable materials.

Managing Director of Caribbean Containers Incorporated Ronald Webster addressing the gathering at the launch of a new line of biodegradable table wares, ‘Eco Pak’ at he company’ s Farm, East Bank Demerara location

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud used the opportunity to pledge his support toward the initiative. “When we launched  the ‘Pick it up ‘Guyana campaign to ensure that our surroundings and environment were clean and to deal with crisis we have in the city with garbage, we looked at the community, individual and business levels to play a part,” Minister Persaud.

In this regard, he said that CCI was one of the first companies that stepped forward with ideas and initiatives to support Government’s drive to sustain a clean and healthy environment.

“Despite the calls for citizens to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner, the calls have fallen on deaf ears and the issue of garbage build-up in and around the city continues to be repeated and we are looking for alternative ways to remedy the situation,” Minister Persaud explained.

While elaborating on the potential and future benefits of recycling in Guyana, Minister Persaud urged that consumers need to be more responsible for their actions.      

“As consumers you must ensure that the places you purchase from should make available more eco-friendly products....if we are serious and committed about cleaning the environment we must demand businesses to be more eco-friendly and make that statement using our spending power,” Minister Persaud explained. 

The Eco Pak products are 100 percent non-toxic, harmless and healthy.  The products are compostable and 100 percent biodegradable in 90s.

The table wares are made from tasteless and health conscious natural fiber, such as sugarcane, straws, reed and other agricultural by-products.

Managing Director of Caribbean Containers Incorporated, newly elected Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Ronald Webster, while boasting about the company’s investment, said that the Eco Pak initiative will surely help Government in its drive to propagate and sustain a clean and friendly environment.

New line of Biodegradable table wares -‘Eco Pak’ on display

Thirty - three percent of the garbage being disposed of, he said, is paper based and therefore, the company will be investing in more equipment to produce other types of biodegradable products from recycled paper in the near future.

Keeping the environment clean, he said is a critical player in development, since this also helps to attract more investors to Guyana’s shore.

When investors come into a country and see a clean and tidy environment, it gives them a better impression of that country and its people, Webster said.

The company, he said is looking at establishing  points in the city so that persons can drop off their waste paper for recycling, since 80 percent of packages produced by the company is manufactured from material collected locally.

The degradation of Eco Pak products starts when it comes into direct contact with an appropriate type and amount of micro organism and water or soil. The products will soon become available on the local market.