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LOCAL Wednesday 5 april 2023

First International Zero Waste Day

The United Nations General lieve some of the planetary ter the landfill closing at
Assembly on December crisis by protecting the en- Parkietenbos in January
14, 2022, recognized the vironment, providing food 2023. More information is
importance of zero-waste safety, improving human available at www.trashto-
initiatives and proclaimed health, and increasing cash.com.
March 30 as International well-being. The initiatives
Zero Waste Day, which we for zero waste addresses The efforts of the DNM are
observed for the first time in responsible production to achieve SDG12, which
2023. and the use of products includes the support of ini-
that fit in a circular system. tiatives like Plastic Beach
The Department of Nature It means the reuse and res- Party, Arubalife Organics,
and Environment DNM has toration of resources to the Zero Waste Company Aru-
the task of informing the maximum to minimize air, ba, Arupro, and many oth-
community about subjects soil, and water pollution. ers.
that affect our environ- Reaching zero waste re-
ment and nature. The DNM quires action at all levels. We are merely starting the tions and determination, SDG12 and zero waste,
focuses on promoting a Products should be de- long journey to reach zero we will accomplish it. For please email us at info@dn-
pattern of sustainable and signed to be durable and waste. Only with our ac- more information about maruba.org.q
circular production and produced sustainably to
consumption that contrib- limit waste and pollution.
ute to the Agenda 2030 for Consumers can change
Sustainable Development. their patterns and habits
for re-using and repairing
Globally waste production products more to stretch
is accelerating, and if we their lifespan before throw-
do not act it will get out ing them away.
of control. What is waste?
Waste is everything put out The efforts of the Govern-
of circulation due to no ment, the community, in-
longer being needed. The dustry, and all stakeholders
waste sector contributes to recognize the potential for
three planetary crises: cli- initiatives for zero waste.
mate change, biodiversity/
nature loss, and pollution. We must reinforce waste
management and improve
We produce 2.24 billion production processes while
tons of solid waste yearly, encouraging the financing
which only 55% is managed of initiatives and creating
or controlled. We discard policies for a circular econ-
about 931 million tons of omy.
food waste, and 14 million
tons of plastic waste enter In Aruba, we can think of
the marine ecosystem or financing companies that
water streams yearly. If this focus on repairing and ex-
tendency is not stopped tending the life of products.
now, by 2050, humans will Often products are repair-
produce around 4 billion able, and their compo-
tons of waste per year. nents are also reusable.

The mindset and initia- In connection with waste
tives for zero waste are to management, the Govern-
prevent and minimize its ment of Aruba introduced
quantity but also help re- a waste stream system af-