Bring your bottles for bag
JET to share 12 tips for reducing garbage at launch of Christmas campaign
THE JAMAICA Environment Trust (JET) is inviting the public to take part in its ‘Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica Christmas – Bring a Bag a Bottle’ at Mall Plaza, Constant Spring Road in Half-Way Tree on Tuesday, December 12. There, persons can get a reusable ‘Chico’ shopping bag, in exchange for 30 plastic bottles, while stocks last.
With the ban on single-use plastic bags, referred to as ‘scandals’, set to take effect on January 1, the timing of the ‘bag for bottles’ swap is just right, according to Suzanne Stanley, chief executive officer of JET.
She told The Gleaner: “We thought Christmas would be a great opportunity to do some education around the ban because Jamaicans need to get used to carrying our own reusable bags. So we have these reusable Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica shopping bags that are really great. It is about the size of a ‘scandal’ bag and when not being used, it can be folded into a small ball. So it really is convenient.”
The Chico bags will also be on sale for $1,000, with proceeds going to the Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica campaign.
The event, which starts at 3 p.m., will also feature the launch of another JET initiative – Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica: 12 Tips of Christmas.
This campaign encourages Jamaicans to reduce the amount of garbage they produce during the holiday season by, among other things:
I Taking a reusable bag when going shopping
I Switching to reusable plates, cups and cutlery at Christmas parties
I Giving thoughtful, personal and unique gifts, which don’t generate much waste.
JET’s Christmas campaign also reminds Jamaicans to recycle plastics wherever possible and that any garbage they do generate must always be put in a bag and placed in a bin for collection.
For this event, JET will partner with Wisynco Eco and Recycling Partners of Jamaica to share tips on the proper collection, packaging and disposal of garbage.