Environmental research

The proposed approach consists of two parts - the first being to encourage the more widespread adoption of the Cans for Kids (CFK) program (which provides financial support to underfunded youth programs in the Bahamas) while reducing environmental impact. The second part of the proposed project is to encourage recycling through the establishment of a community-based, pilot recycling depot. The overarching goal of the proposed project is to provide members of the community with tools, resources and knowledge, empowering them to take a more proactive role in waste management. The proposed project will be located in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. The CFK Outreach Program will be conducted within 30 public and private schools within Nassau. Additionally, the program will be conducted at the participating youth organizations meeting space (located throughout Nassau). The pilot recycling depot will be located at New Providence Community Center (NPCC), located at Blake Road and JFK Drive. The target communities involved are students and youth organization members in New Providence (i.e., children and youth, aged 5 to 25). The target community for the pilot recycling depot are patrons of the NPCC, including members of the New Providence Community Church and residents living in the constituency of Killarney (where the NPCC is located). The project is relevant to GEF/SGP Country Programme Strategy in that it addresses Climate Change Mitigation (one of the GEF Focal Areas). Cans for Kids Outreach Program Through the project 30 schools in Nassau will have increased their participation to the point where each school is collecting at least 0.5 ton of aluminum cans per month; The Project will have enlisted an additional 10 youth organizations to participate in the program and by the end of the program and they will be collecting at least 70 lbs of aluminum cans on a monthly basis; and The project will have established a formal aluminum can recycling program at one of the largest resorts in the Bahamas, Baha Mar, from whom we will aim to collect approximately 1 ton of aluminum cans on a monthly basis. NPCC Pilot Recycling Depot Through the depot, we will have diverted from the landfill: Aluminum cans = 1 ton/year; Food waste = 12 tons/year; Green waste = 24 tons/year; Cardboard and paper = 22 tons/year; Plastics = 9 tons /year; and Glass bottles = 12 tons/year. Furthermore, we will have educated at least 750 students and community members on the importance of recycling, made them aware of recycling facility at the NPCC and of the recycling services offered by waste management providers in New Providence.

Bahamas