Wisynco promotes recycling

Wisynco ECO, a division of Wisynco Group Limited responsible for increasing awareness of recycling, launched its latest campaign dubbed 'The Recycle Challenge'.

The challenge aims to increase awareness surrounding recycling, the availability of recycling facilities in Jamaica, as well as helping persons to develop recycling habits.

By collaborating with a few companies, ECO hopes the management and staff will help show persons how easy it is to recycle, while starting a conversation around proper recycling practices.

"When conceptualising the recycle challenge, we wanted to expand the reach of the campaign. As such, we decided that we needed to include members of the public, mainly business and corporate Jamaica. With these companies as challengers, we aim to use them as influencers to spark the conversation around proper recycling in the hopes of influencing a nation," said Shelly-Ann Dunkley, environmental communications officer at Wisynco Group Ltd.

Lucille Brodber, chairperson of Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited, who spoke at the event, shared Dunkley's sentiments. "We are missing out on the managing of these products and materials. Recycling is a lifestyle challenge and we have to figure out how to further spread the message," Brodber said.

Over the period of seven weeks, six local companies have pledged to aid in the collection of 100,000 plastic bottles. This will include the companies and their employees reaching out to local and surrounding communities near their establishments, to further spread the mandate of the challenge and get them involved in the process. Bins have been provided to each company and are open to members of the communities to get involved.

Representing Tank-Weld Metals, Jelani Malcolm echoed statements of the challenge not just being for those involved, but that it should be a collaborative effort. "This really should be an effort by everyone, not just one person or company.

"With a challenge such as this, it is really allowing us as participants to encourage this practice at work, home and surroundings. If we do this, we will be ensuring that the environment will be protected for years to come, as we are demonstrating positive values," he said.

Competing to win $200,000 towards the development or execution of a recycling project within a community or charity of their choice, the challengers include Fidelity Motors, The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited, Tank-Weld Metals, Zip 103 FM, Chilitos JaMexican and Chad-Ad Distributors.