This World Environment Day, the global call is clear: it’s time to “Beat Plastic Pollution.” From the depths of our oceans to the peaks of our mountains, plastic waste is everywhere—even infiltrating our bodies as microplastics. As Elisa Tonda, Chief of the Resources and Markets Branch at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aptly states, “Plastic pollution is one of the gravest environmental threats facing the Earth but it’s a problem we can solve. Doing so could not only improve the well-being of people and planet but also unlock a host of economic opportunities.”
In the Caribbean, Jamaica is emerging as a beacon of hope, showing that with determination and innovation, tackling plastic pollution is possible.
Intercepting Plastic Before It Reaches the Sea
Kingston Harbour, once a vibrant marine ecosystem, has suffered from years of pollution, with an estimated 578 metric tons of plastic entering its waters annually. This harbour, the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world, is located on Jamaica’s south coast. It receives water—and pollution—from rivers such as the Rio Cobre and from urban drains like Sandy Gully. Both of these carry waste and runoff from the city into Hunts Bay. In recent years, solid waste has become a big problem: blocked gullies cause flooding and infrastructure damage. Garbage builds up in the mangroves, disrupting the flow of seawater and impacting the health of plants and animals. This pollution doesn’t stay local—it spreads out to sea and threatens coral reefs.
Though reefs cover less than 0.1% of the ocean, they support over 25% of marine life. They also protect our coastlines, provide food and medicine, and attract tourists—but they’re now one of the most at-risk ecosystems on the planet.
In an effort to stop the ongoing flow of trash into Kingston Harbour, The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit based in The Netherlands, has partnered with the GraceKennedy Foundation, with support from Clean Harbours Jamaica and Recycling Partners of Jamaica. The Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project employs Interceptor Barriers to capture waste from the city’s drainage gullies before it reaches the harbour. A small, powered barge with a conveyor belt scoops up the trash trapped by the barrier and loads it into containers for onward shipment to Recycling Partners of Jamaica for sorting. There are currently nine Interceptor Barriers around the harbour, and the difference is noticeable: where just a few years ago the harbour was awash in islands of floating trash, these days you are more likely to spot sea birds bobbing on the water’s surface.
(from https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/expanding-the-interceptor-family/)
Turning Trash into Treasure
Capturing plastic waste is only part of the solution; processing and repurposing it is equally crucial. Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ), the nation’s leading plastic bottle recycling company, plays a pivotal role in this endeavour. Plastics collected from the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project along with plastics from returns are sorted, baled, and exported for recycling, transforming potential pollutants into valuable resources. Their ultimate goal is to remove 80% of the plastic bottles in the retail trade in Jamaica from the environment.
Policy Measures: Banning Single-Use Plastics
Complementing these grassroots and technological efforts, the Jamaican government has implemented progressive policies to curb plastic pollution. The fourth phase of the single-use plastic ban, which came into effect in July 2024, prohibits the import, distribution, sale, or use of specific plastic food containers and microplastics in personal care products. This comprehensive approach addresses plastic pollution from production to disposal, ensuring a sustainable future.
A Model for the World
Jamaica’s multifaceted strategy—combining community engagement, innovative technology, and robust policy—offers a replicable blueprint for nations worldwide grappling with plastic pollution. As the world prepares for the next round of negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution, Jamaica’s proactive measures serve as a compelling case study in effective environmental stewardship.
This World Environment Day, let’s try to be like Jamaica and commit to collective action.
