Bio-diversity

The overall goal of this project is to increase community awareness of the hazards of and alternatives to plastics, leading to a significant reduction in the use of plastics, and the elimination of Styrofoam (polystyrene foam) and the phase-out of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Plastic and Styrofoam (polystyrene) containers, bags, PET bottles, and packaging are often disposed of indiscriminately and much of it ends up in public and open spaces, and in our soils, rivers, seas, beaches, and in the stomachs of animals on land and sea. This is due to the over use of plastics and Styrofoam, their indiscriminate disposal, and the lack of awareness of their degradation of the environment and hazards to wildlife. Beyond reduction, the Community Watch aims to replace the excess products with more environmentally friendly products preferably locally produced like Kalinago baskets and tote bags. This program is part of a larger initiative of transforming Portsmouth into a green city. The objective is to create a community grassroots bottom-up sustainable community in Dominica, The Nature Island , which will create carbon neutral footprint neighbourhoods, enhance livelihoods, and serve as a model for the country and other small islands to emulate. PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is widely used in a number of areas, is a potential health hazard (which may lead to asthma, cancer, and other life threatening diseases). PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing major hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal. PVC is not commonly recycled or recyclable, nor is it biodegradable. The overall goal of this project is to increase community awareness of the hazards of and alternatives to plastics, leading to a significant reduction in the use of plastics, and the elimination of Styrofoam (polystyrene foam) and the phase-out of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The project objectives are: 1. Sensitize the Public on the issues of the use of plastics, PVC and Styrofoam, and create awareness and implementation of the alternatives. This would be an on-going activity, which will span beyond the duration of the project. 2. Work with the Portsmouth Town Council, the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation, and the Environmental Health Department to introduce and enforce a Town Litter Ordinance, and implement a Litter Programme, which will help eliminate the indiscriminate disposal of litter. 3. Collaborate with Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation to create a Safe Disposal Programme, for Plastics, Styrofoam, PVC and other objects that contain hazardous substances such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs. 4. Collaborate with the Physical Planning Division, DOWASCO, the Dominica Society of Architects, the Ambulance and Fire Department, the Environmental Health Department, and the Environmental Coordinating Unit to Phase-out PVC in buildings, piping, and elsewhere; 5. Collaborate with the Portsmouth Town Council, the Environmental Health Department, the Environmental Coordinating Unit, Ross University Environment Committee, importers, and area businesses to eliminate the use of Styrofoam; 6. Collaborate with the Portsmouth Town Council, Ross University Environment Committee, the Environmental Health Department, the Environmental Coordinating Unit, beverage manufactures, importers, area businesses, and the Portsmouth Community to reduce the use of plastics. 7. Introduce Green Living Principles to the Community. By the end of this program the aim is to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags by at least 50%, eliminate the indiscriminate disposal of PET bottles through community awareness, a municipal ordinance, and the imposition of a deposit on most takeaway PET bottles sold in bars and restaurants. The program also aims for 100% replacement of Styrofoam as a food takeaway container. A more gradual reduction in new PVC installation is expected. We will work with the architects and designers to use alternate products. The project is aimed at lifestyle and attitude changes. It is expected that an irreversible baseline awareness will be achieved which will be the foundation that should continue after this program has concluded. The PCWF believes environmental awareness is a continuous pursuit and will continue to hold regular programs and activities using the community radio, video productions, internet broadcasts, and publishing software to maintain and advance the community s sensitivity on environmental issues especially on Climate Changes and biodiversity. The PCWF is currently setting up environmental and earth science programs at the schools to raise awareness and understanding of these issues among students and youth. Membership fees, and solicited funds will help finance the continuation of this venture.

Dominica