Target Jamaica’s culture of garbage

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The Government is to be applauded for the recent restrictions on one-time plastic usage. But we need to go further and deal with our garbage situation, particularly our gullies – which only seem to get cleaned when the rains come and wash refuse into the beautiful Caribbean Sea and straight into the mouths of waiting sea life.

We see pictures regularly of beached whales cut open to reveal 50kg or more of plastics in their bellies. How can we let this continue?

Reports suggest that 100,000 marine animals die every year from plastic ingestion, and about eight million tonnes of plastic enter oceans annually. The world has woken up to the terrible crisis our oceans are in, and Jamaica can make its contribution to stemming this dreadful slide before it is too late.

As for trees, we now have our beautiful new roads (or soon to be finished) but have now contributed hugely to increased asphalt, which will, in turn, increase the heat emanating from said roadways.

Let’s have the vision for beautiful tree-lined avenues that will help in multiple ways: shade for pedestrians, attract rain, reduce dust particles, and provide oxygen. Trees are also a good solution for reducing noise pollution, not to mention beautification.

Win-win in my books!

WENDY FACEY

Kingston 8