Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Wednesday 31 January 2018

Enthusiasm to recycle plastic during carnival season

ORANJESTAD – Plastic Beach Party
is an initiative in cooperation with
Brenchie’s Lab and Academy of
Fine Arts & Design. They collect
plastic to have it recycled and are
in the process of acquiring funds
to purchase more machines and
parts to work the plastic.

During the Big Children’s Parade in
Oranjestad last weekend the foun-
dation was collecting plastic that
was left in the streets, but also col-
lected by the public. Not only did
the organization collect the plas-
tic, they also talked a lot with the
public to create awareness around
the topic. People asked them why
they covered 15 Florin for collect-
ing the plastic from the carnival
stands. The organization explained
that they need to cut the plastic by
hand now and with this small con-
tribution they are gaining funds to
hopefully buy the machine parts
that can cut the plastic for them.

How to recycle this plastic? Well,
the foundation receives support
from amongst others Monument- wanted to make a difference and
funds Aruba, Stimuleringsfonds help to solve this problem.” Aruba
Creative Industrie and Bank Giro imports more than 6 million kilo of
Lotterij Fonds– by crowd surfing plastic on a yearly base, but where
and donations they have pur- does all the waste go? With the
chased machinery that can pro- idea of selling plastic souvenirs the
cess plastic in different ways and visitors can actually contribute to
create new products. For example the recycling of plastic. The volun-
bottles, bags, cups and other plas- teers designed and created their
tic products. With this procedure own products and one of them is
there will be less plastic waste and a plastic heart that functions like a
the environment will benefit. lamp. Dik works at the veterinary
clinic in Paradera and this helps her
Souvenirs from Plastic with the foundation as the owners
Nydia Dik is one of the volunteers of of the pets recognize her. In this
Plastic Beach Party Aruba and she way she can easily explain the im-
explains that they are working on portance of recycling the plastic
the production of plastic souvenirs and helping the Aruban environ-
now. “The whole idea of recycling ment.
plastic was formed by a group
of people that worry about the For more information: Facebook
waste of plastic on the island. They Plastic Beach Party.q