Climate Change & What We Can Do About It

Climate change is a phenomenon that affects the entire planet. Climate is not the short-term weather condition of a place but rather the long-term weather conditions averaged over a period of 30 years or more. Major precipitation and temperature changes that last for many decades contribute to climate change. Any significant variation in measures of climate extending over long periods of time is referred to as climate change.  

Human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels (eg, coal, oil) have led to the climate change that is imminent. These activities have ushered in a new era of climate change characterised by global warming and sea level rise. Worldwide changes in average climatic conditions are not simply affecting distant places and wild species, such as the drowning of polar bears due to melting of the Arctic ice shelf. Climate change is already affecting us in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

How Does Climate Change Affect Us? The effects of climate change include:

• temperature increases; as cooler nighttime temperatures evanesce, both days and nights are now hot in the Caribbean
• changes in rainfall and river volumes; in Jamaica the intensity and frequency of rainfall is changing more flooding and droughts; the Caribbean is presently experiencing more extremes in weather patterns

What Can We Do? Here are a few things that we can do in Jamaica to help reduce climate change:

• reduce population growth rates
• reuse, recycle and reduce garbage output
• drive fuel-efficient vehicles
• sequester carbon dioxide by planting trees
• expand solar and wind technology training to all levels of the renewable energy sector in order to create jobs
• increase the use of solar energy
• cut fossil fuel use
• minimise urban sprawl
• tax each unit of fossil fuel  consumed and use 1/3 of the revenue from this tax to engage the services of farmers to plant native trees

​In order to reduce the effects of climate change we need to act now, to prevent future regrets. We can each play a role at the individual, community or national level. Some of these efforts will require lifestyle or political changes. However, these changes will result in long-term financial savings, business profitability, job creation, protection of biodiversity and a healthier human populace.

 - - - Chandra Degia, PhD, is an Environmental Consultant

Glass is one of the most popular materials recycled today, both because of the purity of the ingredients and the quick turnaround of recycling. Your glass containers actually begin their life as readily-available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash or limestone.
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Glass makes up a large component of household and industrial waste due to its weight and density. It is not biodegradable, and so, can have negative impacts on the environment and/or health through the accumulation of litter. In addition, broken glass is often a key factor in starting bush fires, which can have a devastating effect on the environment and impact on the health of nearby populations.

Why recycle glass
The good news is that glass is 100% recyclable with no loss to quality or purity of new product. Scrap glass or cullet, as it is more commonly known, is a key production ingredient added to the raw materials used to produce glass. Recycling glass containers provides for unmatched production efficiencies and significant environmental benefits.

• ​Saves raw materials - Over a ton of natural resources are conserved for every ton of glass recycled, including 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash, 380 pounds of limestone, and 160 pounds of feldspar.
• Lessens the demand for energy - Energy costs drop about 2-3% for every 10% cullet used in the manufacturing process.
• Cuts CO2 emissions - For every six tons of recycled container glass used, a ton of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is reduced. A relative 10% increase in cullet reduces particulates by 8%, nitrogen oxide by 4%, and sulphur oxides by 10%.
• Extends furnace life - Including cullet in the manufacturing mix makes it less corrosive and lowers the melting temperature (from 2800 degrees F. to 2600 degrees F.), prolonging furnace life.
• No processing by-products - Glass recycling is a closed-loop system, creating no additional waste or by-products.

What to Recycle 
Recycle Glass Containers Only​ - Check to make sure it’s a bottle or jar.

• Iced tea and soda bottles
• Food jars
• Beer bottles
• Wine and liquor bottles
• Juice and water containers

Keep It Clean - Keep out all non-container glass.

• Ceramic coffee cups
• Drinking glasses
• Mirrors
• Pyrex
• Light bulbs

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The foundation for any waste management program is the three R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Typically the first step to manage your waste is by never generating them in the first place. If you are able to reduce all feasible waste, the next step then focuses on ways to reuse materials in an effort to extend the life of the item. Finally, recycle all the remaining materials that are accepted locally. 

A fourth, in some circles, R – re-buy - encourages the use of products that contained recycled material. This assists in providing an incentive to recyclers. 

Proper waste management allows organisations to reduce costs and liabilities. It also allows householders to take control of the waste generated, especially as the collection of waste has become sporadic in recent times. In addition to protecting the environment, proper waste management benefits the country through reducing waste accumulation at our disposal sites or landfills. 

Let’s take a look at each of these elements and how they contribute to better management of our waste. 

1. REDUCE
The best way to stick to your plan of proper waste management is to not generate the waste in the first place. Consider the following list to help you on your way: 

• Buy goods with little or no packaging 
• Repair an item, if feasible, before replacing the item. 
• Consider the toxicity of the item prior to purchase, that way you can reduce the toxicity of the waste you generate. 
• Buy only what you need as disposing of any excess can be costly (especially for hazardous material - such as pesticides, some paints and stains, etc.). 

See below a few ​options on ways to reduce your use of disposables.

2. REUSE 
We all generate waste every day in some form. To help reduce the amount of waste you generate, look for ways to reuse the items by finding a new purpose or use for it. Some simple ideas include reusing old tablecloths or sheets for cleaning rags, reusing containers for storage for example. And for all those people who still print on single-sided office paper turn the unused paper into scratch work. 

Most things are like cats - they have multiple lives. It's simply up to us to let them live out their lives! 

• Empty tissue boxes can hold pens, pencils, etc. 
• Donate older electronic equipment, if still usable, to a nearby school or charitable organisation. 
• Empty water bottles can be used as planters

3. RECYCLE 
Once a product has exhausted its lives, make it part of the great cycle - send it back to start over again as something new! 

• Participate in a recycling programme.
• Drop off your plastics to a school near you. 
• Investigate what can be recycled in your community/area and separate your recyclables from the general waste 
• Consider composting your organic waste and/or donating un-served food to a shelter or food bank. 

RESOURCE:

• Contact Recycling Partners of Jamaica (876) 948-7381
• Click here for a listing of locations island wide where you can drop off your plastics - Depot Listing

DID YOU KNOW?

• Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100 watt bulb for four hours 
• Making aluminium cans out of raw materials takes 19 times the amount of energy than it takes to recycle a can 
• Every 1,050 recycled milk jugs can make one six foot plastic park bench 
• Glass never wears out. It can be recycled forever. 
• Recycling one ton of paper saves 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil and 3 cubic yards of landfill space 
• Recycling one ton on newspapers saves 15 trees 

4. REBUY 
Finally, if we need to "close the loop" of the waste management cycle and encourage recycling Consumers should purchase products that contain post-consumer recyclable material as this will encourage manufacturers to use more recycled material in their products than natural/virgin resources. 
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We, as consumers, are able to drive the demand for recycled products and contribute to the sustainability of the industry.

Composting is the recycling of plant and other organic matter. This process results in an earthy material that is great for enriching the soil.

Composting is crucial to our efforts to preserve the environment. By recycling these materials we are not only reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills we are also creating a more fertile environment to produce our own organic fruits and vegetables. Composting can reduce yard waste picked up by the garbage truck by anywhere from 50 to 75%.

Let us try to compost simple items we would normally throw away:
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• Paper napkins, from your dinner table
• Whether dining at home or eating out, some of the remnants can also be composted.

Natural corks take longer to break down but can also be added to your compost bin

• Having guests over for a celebration, there is bound to be the need to vacuum at the end of the night. The contents of your vacuum cleaner can be emptied into the compost bin
• Paper packaging, newspapers, gift wrapping paper and gift tags can be shredded and added to the mix. Be careful not to include paper that has a large amount of plastic or glitter, these won’t break down so easily.
• Tree and grass clippings along with dried leaves– make a nice addition to your compost pile 
• Fruit and Vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds
• Tea bags can be added, ensure they are plastic-free. Look for brands like Lipton, Tetley and Celestial Seasonings who have plastic-free tea bags. Also try loose leaf teas.

Time, as with anything else, is another critical element to successful composting. It takes approximately six to eight months for organic materials to fully break down. Occasional turning of your compost pile can assist in the breakdown of organic material and facilitate aeration. However, another school of thought states that this process is a natural one and would occur without any human intervention so it can be left on its own. Occasional turn won't hurt, especially since you'll be adding new material regularly. 

It is important to note that while all organisms could possibly be composted, some are not recommended for composting. The organisms on the DO NOT USE list are not recommended because they attract rodents, other pests and sometimes create offensive odours. In addition some may create an adverse result. These include:

• Meat and Bones and fatty food waste
• Chemically Treated Wood
• Pet waste – They may carry diseases
• Diseased Plants

​Composting is a natural process that we merely facilitate. It requires just a little thought and effort in order to reap the benefits of an environment preserved for future generations. This is one of the little habits that we can get into that will have a positive effect. Take some time look at your back yard, pick a spot. Rally your family, neighbours and friends and get going. It’s too easy and important not to.