Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2021 (SKNIS): Plastics are harmful to the environment as they are non-biodegradable and take years to break down, thus contaminating soil and water in the process, said Biosafety Officer in the Ministry of Environment, Vicia Woods.
“They are a danger to human health and the environment because when these plastics… are improperly disposed of and because they don’t break down immediately, they break apart into smaller pieces known as micro-plastics. When these micro-plastics make their way into the ocean, into the lakes, they become a part of our food chain,” said Ms. Woods during her April 21 appearance on ‘Working for You’. “Because the marine life consumes these tiny pieces of plastics, when we eat these marine species we, in turn, consume not only the species but also the toxins that they hold.”
Ms. Woods said that hazardous chemicals can be found in single-use plastic food wrappings and containers which have direct contact with the food humans consume and that these chemicals may be introduced into the body.
“Plastics also have been found in the blood tissues of human beings because the toxins leach out into the system of humans and they become a part of us. These plastics in our systems have been linked to various ailments,” she said, while referencing styrene, an organic compound used to make Styrofoam. “It has been labelled as a possible carcinogen… and what that simply means is that it is a cancer-causing material, and because we use Styrofoam so often in our daily lives, each time we buy food, we take them in the Styrofoam containers. As these containers heat up, they release toxins so we consume them as well,” Ms. Woods added.
She noted that because of the harmful effects plastics have on the environment and human health, the ban on single-use plastics becomes even more necessary. Ms. Woods added that banning single-use plastics will reduce marine and land-based plastic pollution, as well as reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 23rd, 2020 (ZIZ News) It is illegal to dump waste outside of an official waste station, as well as litter the streets and other surrounding areas because such practices cause great environmental issues and harm to human health. In light of this, Minister of Environment, the Hon. Eric Evelyn, issued a warning to all who are involved in the illicit acts.
“ We need a change of attitude when it comes to littering and I am really hoping that in the future we could have our litter wardens activated and they could do some work and charge people when they litter,” said Minister Evelyn during the Budget Debate on Friday, December 18. “People must treat government and public properties like their own. If you are not going to litter your home, why litter the streets? Why are you going to litter the beaches? Treat it like your own.”
Minister Evelyn also cautioned bus drivers, and encouraged them to encourage their passengers to stop littering.
“I want to make a special appeal to the bus drivers. When you have your passengers don’t let them throw any bottles out of the window. When you are driving on the road and you are drinking water don’t just throw the bottle outside. Keep the bottle in your vehicle until you get home or to a garbage bin,” said the minister.
He said that as a tourist destination, the general public must always take pride in their country and ensure that it is kept clean at all times.
“We are a tourist destination n and I want the time to come when St. Kitts and Nevis could be… the cleanest destination in the region and the world. If we want to have a healthy destination, we must have a clean destination and so I am making this appeal now,” said Minister Evelyn. “Everything that we do, every decision we make hinges on the environment and it is going to affect the environment whether positively or negatively and we want to live in a destination that is healthy.”
The minister added that the ministry will champion the cause to ensure that the illegal dumping and littering comes to an end.
He added that in 2021, the ministry will continue to dialogue with key stakeholders and the general public regarding the environment and the way forward.