By Samantha Simon
A pioneering school recycling programme has diverted nearly a million containers from Antigua and Barbuda’s landfills in its first year, according to impact data released by local environmental organization Good Humans 268.
The initiative, which received US $98,000 in grant funding from the Sandals Foundation, has successfully installed over 260 recycling bins across 81 schools throughout the twin-island nation.
This systematic approach to waste collection has resulted in the recovery of more than 900,000 cans and bottles from schools and community events.
“We’re interacting with about 20,000 individuals,” said Joshuanette Francis, founder of Good Humans 268, highlighting that this represents only 20 percent of their potential reach.
“If we were sending this to the landfill, it would be there for the next 100 years, and if this is only 20 percent that we’ve been able to extract, can you imagine what the other 80 percent of the population is sending to the landfill?”
The programme’s growth has been remarkable since its modest beginnings.
“We started with four bins at one school, Ottos Comprehensive Secondary last year January, and now we are at all 81 schools,” Francis explained.
Recent sorting efforts at their John Hughes facility have shown promising results.
The team processed “112 bags which translate to 1200 bottles” in a single week, with an additional 300 bags sorted during the summer period.
While the organization faced a temporary setback when the government paused their plastic-free initiative, sorting operations have now resumed with government support.
The programme extends beyond mere recycling, incorporating a broader educational mission.
“Our student community service programme is designed to engage students from kindergarten to Fifth Form in volunteering, recycling and tree planting,” Francis explained.
Looking ahead, Good Humans 268 is actively seeking community involvement to help process the collected materials.
“I am encouraging citizens to become volunteers to come and see what we have done because when you hear about it and when you see it, it’s two different emotions,” Francis stated.
The organization has outlined ambitious plans for expansion, including the development of eco-communities, eco-events, and eco-businesses, with details available at www.goodhumans268.org.
These initiatives aim to transform waste management practices across Antigua and Barbuda while creating employment opportunities, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
