The Solid Waste Management Unit is in total agreement with the Ministry of Culture’s implementation of the “no bottle” policy as regards the sale of beverages at events during the upcoming Carnival festivities. They are however bracing for the potential solid

waste nightmare that may come with this policy.

In an effort to combat violent crime in carnival by eliminating the possibility of bottles being used as weapons, Culture Minister René Baptiste has introduced the “no bottle” policy which will see a vast increase in the use of plastic and styrofoam cups at Carnival events.{{more}}

“We are asking vendors to be responsible and make sure that they provide receptacles for the collection of garbage for their customers,” said the Solid Waste Unit’s PRO, Joan Ryan as she spoke to SEARCHLIGHT recently.

Ryan said that the Unit is planning to set up collection bins at strategic points to cater for the increase in waste, but will need the waste management during the Carnival season to be a collective effort by all parties including the carnival revelers.

Ryan told SEARCHLIGHT that the Solid Waste Unit is seeking to deepen it’s relationship with the Carnival Development Committee so that they can work together during the festive season to ensure that all the necessary steps are taken in the interest of solid waste management.

As part of the strategy, posters will be set up in mas camps to give some guidance to masqueraders as to the proper disposal of their costumes when Carnival is over. “Costumes can be seen floating in rivers when Carnival is over and this practice has to stop,” stated a concerned Ryan.

Also expressing his concern was Winsbert Quow, Manager of the Solid Waste Unit who told SEARCHLIGHT that parts of the costumes can be recycled, therefore the unit will be asking the mas bands to encourage masqueraders to return their used costumes to the bands where that is possible.

The Solid Waste Management top brass told SEARCHLIFHT that although it might be surprising, one of the biggest clean up headaches after carnival ends is bottle corks. Often trampled to the ground by stampeding revelers, thousands of these corks stick into the pitch and can be a real challenge to clean up crews to dig out.