The real challenge in solid waste management is not things like clean ups which are only temporary solutions. Rather, the solution lies in a genuine individual and community commitment to reducing waste. The three R's refer to Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, which have been watchwords of the NSWMA from the very beginning. While recycling opportunities are not widely available we also push the concept of composting, which is nature's recycling process. It is our firm belief that by Reducing, Reusing, and Composting we will save money involved in waste collection and disposal and also save money at source since individually we'll be buying and using up less. It means too that the problem of trying to find additional land space if our landfill is used up too quickly will be reduced somewhat. It harkens back to industrious, thrifty, resourceful nature that characterized Caribbean life before the days of fast food, and fast and disposable living. We can begin to do our part today by practicing some of the followi ng at home, and at work. If you own a business, and want specific information on source reduction in the professional world

Click Don't Throw It All Away.

At home, you can reduce waste by buying bulk-packaged items to cut down on individual packaging, buying products in reusable containers, not buying disposable products when you can avoid them.

This process of shopping wise, which we also refer to as enviro-shopping, includes things like taking your bag with you to the shop, store, supermarket; avoiding purchasing food in single serving, disposable containers, avoid purchasing paper, and foam or plastic disposable dinnerware where possible. For more information on Enviro-Shopping and on the 3R's generally check our Archive of Articles for the relevant information.

Reusing as well is a wonderful on cutting back on the volume of waste we put out weekly for collection. And as the name suggests basically involves reusing potential waste material as often as possible. This means saving and reusing containers, boxes and envelopes and packaging material. It means giving old magazines, books and catalogues to neighbours, hospitals and nursing homes. It means sharing magazines and newspapers, giving away-unwanted clothing and repairable appliances or donating to charity. The Board of Education newsletter The Ledger, for instance, in its second issue asked "kitchen assistants" to donate small appliances and equipment still in good condition to the school home economic centers.

Around the house, reusing means things like using aluminum foil more than once or using old clothes not in good condition as rags just like we used to do. It also means reselling your used bottles to the brewery or any of the collection agencies where possible rather than throwing away. Of course, it also means reusing those grocery bags that are so abundant perhaps on your next trip to the store or as trash can liners.

At work, reusing means simple things like using scrap paper for note taking, eliminating unnecessary forms, reports and publications, circulating one memo to co-workers instead of distributing separate memos to each individual or using a staff notice board, and printing and photocopying on both sides of a sheet of paper whenever possible. As for recycling, while it is not possible for a public sector organization to pursue this, we encourage private sector participation in the recycling of things like bottles, glass, and plastics.

Composting, meanwhile, is a means by which we can all but eliminate organic waste from our waste stream. Organic waste refers to living material that will break down naturally back into soil. This includes fruit and vegetable scraps, yard waste, paper products and so on. This includes things like leaves, grass clippings, brush, fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags. The composting process involves the break down of said organic material into a nutrient rich soil supplement for your garden.

The NSWMA has promoted composting via its columns, at community meetings, in schools, via its public service announcements and during two composting workshops held in early 2002. In 2000, it launched a pilot composting project with the Antigua Girl Guides Association, assisted the Royal Antiguan Resort with setting up a compost, and still has plans to launch a composting programme in the secondary schools. All these composting efforts are widely promoted in the media as a way of encouraging the wider community, and demonstrating the ease with which it can be pursued.