Oct. 21, 2008 — Nearly 50 people attended Tuesday night's Recycling Association of the Virgin Islands meeting, led by one of St. Thomas' best-known farmers, Benita Samuel Martin.
This was the second meeting for the recycling association, which began on St. Croix a year and a half ago, said Samuel Martin, who also serves as the association's project manager.
Though the group is growing rapidly, it is still in its formative stages and has not yet achieved incorporation or status as a non-profit entity, according to Dee Osinski. Members of the recycling group said they hoped Tuesday's meeting would generate more memberships in the community.
"We are only working as a project under the Resource Conservation and Development Council," Osinski said.
The St. Thomas group met in August for the first time, with dialog going back and forth with St. Croix. Consolidating the groups gives the movement the numbers it needs to attract legislative and public attention.
On Tuesday night at the V.I. Department of Education's Curriculum Center in Tutu, the group garnered attention in the form of guest speaker May Adams Cornwall, the executive director of the V.I. Waste Management Authority.
Cornwall presented VIWMA's status relevant to recycling issues, including hot topics such as tire recycling. Though the landfill and dump are no longer accepting tires, people attending Tuesday's meeting alleged that not all tire retailers are shipping the used tires off island, though disposal fees are being collected by these companies. This leaves the disposition of the tires in question.
Sean LaPlace suggested that anyone witnessing someone dumping tires should "pull out your cell phone out and report it." He continued, "Take a picture. Make an effort to go into the tire shops and ask them to show you how they are getting rid of the tires."
Cornwall encouraged consumers to patronize companies compliant with WMA rules and guidelines for disposal.
"Both Rodriquez and Western Auto ship them off island," Cornwall said.
Several members of the audience brought it to Cornwall's attention that retailers Home Depot and Radio Shack are not accepting batteries here, as they do on the mainland.
The local authority should demand this kind of commitment before retailers can get their business permits, Cornwall said, but consumers should also demand it. The recycling group is also working to improve the soil throughout the territory by promoting composting and selling composting bins.
"Over 30 percent of material that goes into the Bovoni Landfill could be used for improving the soil," said Jason Budsan, Organic Waste Committee chairman. "We could use it for soil. There are better ways of using our resources."
Donations from MSI, Sea Chest Hardware and Sanitation Solutions have helped to build composting bins that the recycling group has made available to the public for only $80 apiece.
The black plastic bins keep the compost hot, while holes keep the material aerated. The system is suspended above the ground, which prevents the organic material from staying too moist.
The initial 20 bins are allotted already and attendees signed up to be able to get one of the next batch.
To get a compost bin, call 777-7190, leave a message at 775-6048 or send an email.
Other efforts that the group is spearheading include the promotion of a website called freecycle.org. The site allows users to list items in serviceable condition that they no longer need, but are not necessarily ready for the landfill. The site also allows users to list needs for items.
Samuel Martin said she was a textbook example, posting a need for 500 bleach bottles for use on her farm, along with yogurt containers.
Recycling bags was another hot topic, with several people in the audience modeling their shopping bags. The group lauded European countries that have banned the distribution of plastic grocery bags. Several local retailers, including Price Smart, are providing recyclable grocery bags. Esthetica Day Spa also offers for sale a trendy reusable grocery bag that rolls up small enough to fit in a handbag or pocket when empty.
For more information about the Recycling Association of the Virgin Islands, contact Benita Samuel Martin at 344-9118.
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