ANTIGUA - July 2010
Waste recycling baler and bins
Click photo to enlarge
Antigua and Barbuda is a politically stable nation in the West Indies. The Antigua & Barbuda Waste Recycling Corporation (ABWREC) is a project of the Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown in partnership with the government’s National Solid Waste Management Authority. Littering, overflowing landfills and the burning of garbage are serious problems faced by Antigua and all islands throughout the world. ABWREC provides collection of recyclable materials, processing and exportation of recyclables; education and public awareness about recycling, waste reduction and management; tours and demonstrations of the recycling facility; and distribution of recycling bins. In addition to providing the only waste recycling service in the Eastern Caribbean, ABWREC also provides a unique social service in the community by recruiting staff though local drug rehabilitation centres, offering them the chance to re-enter the workforce. To assist ABWREC with the growing demand for its services, Seacology is providing funding for the purchase of a waste recycling baler and 36 100-gallon recycling bins for distribution to schools and commercial centres.
UPDATE September 2010 - As of September 2010 field representative Mykl Clovis reports that the baler model that was originally proposed in the project is apparently not as versatile as hoped, and after discussions with the plant in Barbados quotes for another more suitable model are being obtained. A source has been found that can supply a reconditioned version of the preferred model that should be within budget, but it will take a few weeks to confirm the details.
UPDATE June 2011 - According to Antigua Field Representative Mykl Clovis, ABWREC’s new High Density 60-E720 Baler arrived on island on April 11th. The baler is now in the process of being installed at the recycling facility. It is expected to be operational within the next week, and ABWREC plans to host a small press event for this new addition to the plant. In addition to increasing the capacity for processing plastics, aluminium, and scrap steel the new baler allows the plant to now accept cardboard, which makes up a significant part of the waste stream on an island where the majority of consumer items are imported in cardboard boxes. The plant has already started stockpiling cardboard for recycling.
