“The LORD GOD took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).

~~Adz:Left~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts - human beings we all produce a certain amount of waste, but at this rate the landfill will be full in a few short years – which will require a second landfill!  The time has come to re-evaluate what we so easily toss into the waste bins outside our houses.  With a few minor changes, we, as a nation, can cut our waste in half - if not more! 

Plastics: Plastics are a tricky subject, there is no current means of recycling them (as yet).  Many of these can be re-used, such as the larger water bottles that Island Purified Water so generously allows the consumers to refill.  Old margarine and peanut butter jars are easy storage containers.  Along with these, it is possible to collect old plastic bottles and use them for creative purposes: making homemade drinks, arts and crafts with children, cut them up and grow plants within them, etc.  One recent example of ingenuity in using plastic goods was seen in the plastic bottle house created by the UNESCO Small Islands Voice Carnival Clean-up Troupe! 

And if you’re feeling really inspired, you could always request that the bottling companies allow you to refill your small bottles up too!  It would save both you and them money in the process; they buy fewer plastic bottles for you, and you get your water at a discounted price.  Another cheap solution is to boil your water. 

Paper: There are so many craft projects children can do with paper!  One example, which I personally find to be fun and exciting, is to make beads out of old magazines.  All you need to do is roll up a bit of colourful magazine and glue the ends, and you have beautiful, colourful, RECYCLED, beads!  All you need are some old magazines, scissors, and some glue!  Also, consider buying recycled paper products at the supermarkets, such as toilet paper and paper towels made from recycled materials.

Other Ideas for Re-using Household Items: 

• Old toothbrushes: for cleaning those hard-to-reach areas in your house! 
• Use baking soda instead of cleaning chemicals.  Those harsh chemicals come in hard, plastic bottles – but baking soda comes in a neat little box that composts much quicker than any hard plastic, and it’s better for the environment!  Baking soda is an incredibly useful substance and, when mixed with water or vinegar, leaves a fresh, clean house.  Did I mention that it’s cheap?

• Clean with a re-useable rag, such as old cut up sheets and T-shirts, instead of paper towels.
• Re-use the old shopping bags that you already have instead of buying garbage bags.
• Instead of shopping and taking plastic bags from the store, bring your own canvas bag instead - and maybe request a ten cent discount if you do?  The stores have to pay for their plastics, just as you do!
• Shop with old plastic bags instead of getting new ones each time you go grocery shopping.
• Throw fruit peels, seeds, and discarded food items into a pile in your yard, rather than the waste bin.  They will quickly de-compose back into the soil.
• Make yourself heard!  Send your environmental ideas to saintkittsrecyclingproject@gmail.com!
Let us take care of Earth, leave her beautiful. Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Not just for us, for future generations to come, and also to show how blessed and appreciative we feel that God has asked us to                                                                                                 take care of this earth that He created.