A window on the environmental three R's

(PanamaNewsRoom) Are the environmental three r’s (reduce, re-use, recycle) ever coming to Panama?

It’s a question you may have asked if you come from a jurisdiction where the municipality distributes  different colored boxes to help you sort the tons of waste that each family produces courtesy of the packaging industry and the  throw away habits of the great consumer society and where helping to reduce the tonnage of what goes into landfills is a mantra learned in schools.

It’s something that’s not high on the political agenda in Panama  and the city garbage problem  has led at least one major politician to duck his head below the parapet after the government removed the collection process from his jurisdiction.

 

But still the three r’s are virtually nonexistent except for a few billboards, extolling the virtues of re-cycling, while themselves adding to the visual pollution that has become the bane of the city. There are a few groups around who struggle quietly in the background,  and RibaSmith in Bella Vista has a collection point for used paper and drink containers.

But where are you going to put your used batteries, plastic junk, unused paints, bottles and more?

There will be a chink of light shining through on Saturday, March 26, at  Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua when a “Fair for all of the people” will be aiming to focus attention on the waste problem, and for one day you will have a place where you can take plastic, paper, newspaper, aluminum cans, scrap electronics and batteries.

There will  be workshops to focus on the problem games and sales of organic products,

Also involved in the event organized by FAS Roba Morena will be the Los Angeles Animal Association, which will take about eight cats and five dogs for adoption.

The Association will also  provide educational materials for responsible ownership of pets and expand on the new draft law on animal abuse, as will be selling  promotional products to raise funds for the association.

The “I  Recycle” fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. so at least for a day you can find a real home for some of the stuff that was heading  for  a landfill.

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Original Source: PanamaNewsRoom

Date Retrieved: March 25, 2011