Recycling company urges corporate T&T to go green

Published: 22 Jul 2010

With environmental issues such as pollution, acid rain and climate change now centre stage at many international and local platforms, corporate T&T is being called upon to offer more than just lip-service. Koreena Denoon-Smith, production manager of Recycle in Motion, (RIM), said it’s time for more action and less talk on the part of corporate Trinidad when it comes to preserving the environment. RIM, based at Champs Fleurs, collects plastic waste from donors to send abroad to recycling companies. For the past three years, RIM has provided recycling bins for several schools. Come September, it plans to expand the initiative to the University of the Southern Caribbean in Maracas, St Joseph.

“We teach the children to protect the environment and encourage them to encourage their parents. Going green to some people may mean simply planting trees and vegetables, but it’s so much more than that,” she said. Denoon Smith said plans are to include both the private and public sectors in RIM’s recycling project. “Right now, it’s all about the buck. The big people with the money should not simply sit in their offices with their glass windows and say, we need to do something. We shouldn’t wait until someone big is coming in the country to clean up our act.” Green habits The Environmental Management Authority, (EMA) said there’s an emerging trend in the worlds of business and industry to “green” their processes to minimise environmental impacts, including harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. Tisha Marajh, manager of corporate relations and public education, said the EMA continued to do its part to encourage firms to engage in “green” business practices as part of their corporate social responsibility. “We believe much of this can also be achieved through voluntary compliance with established standards, and by the use of economic and other incentives to encourage “green” habits and behaviour. Greig Laughlin, President, T&T Manufacturing Association, (TTMA) said some local businesses are already adopting eco-friendly habits. “There are companies like Trinidad Cement Ltd which have gone green with some of their operations. “There are also some companies which are now ensuring that old tires are placed into their kiln—used to harden, burn, or dry materials—as fuel. “This is an example of using waste in a good manner.” Source: http://guardian.co.tt/business/business/2010/07/22/recycling-company-urges-corporate-tt-go-green