OECS Media release

Thursday, April 19, 2018 — World Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2018 under the theme “A World Without Plastic Pollution”. Hence, the Anse La Raye Disaster Committee in Collaboration with the OECS Environmental Sustainability Cluster, the New Zealand High Commission, the European Union, Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC) and the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority have organised a cleanup activity in the village of Anse-La-Raye, Saint-Lucia for Friday April 20. Residents, schools, cooperatives, and journalists are invited to the activity that will start at 8:30.

A rapid increase in population accompanied by a lack of environmental awareness, has resulted in the community of Anse-La-Raye facing a major challenge with regard to waste management which has particularly impacted the areas surrounding mangroves and waterways. Other factors that have contributed to the situation include changing consumption patterns, changes in packaging material resulting in wider use and disposal of plastics containers, the non-recycling of used items such as bottles, old and inefficient waste management technologies and low stakeholder participation.

The cleanup activity aims at raising awareness about the consequences of improper waste disposal and the need to maintaint safe and healthy environment. This initiative also seeks to restore wildlife habitats and reduce the incidence of vector-borne diseases, such as Zika and Chikungunya which are spread by vectors that thrive in polluted environments.

The cleanup activity will include the removal of litter from public areas such as streets, drains and other waterways, the clearing of illegal dump sites, the planting of trees and education and awareness programmes on waste management.

Residents and volunteers will participate in the cleanup campaign. Journalists are invited to contribute to the raising of environmental awareness and particularly on the dangers posed by plastic waste, which is the focus of the theme for World Earth Day.

SOURCE & video: https://pressroom.oecs.org/world-earth-day–cleanup-campaign-to-be-held-in-anse-la-raye-this-week