ARTICLE #1

 Dumping Hazardous Waste

By Anne Hilton

Newsday _ Thursday, January 20 2011

Used engine oil contains a deadly cocktail of chemicals.... 

“Where do 1.25 million litres of lubricating oil go?” I asked in another place on June 17, 1992. And, having answered that question in no less than a series of five articles, I left NP and Trintoc (as Petrotrin was in those days) Solid Waste, possibly Waste Disposals and others in the business of dealing with wastes, hazardous and otherwise to tackle that problem and moved on to focus on other environmental ills plaguing TT. 

I reckoned I had done my endeavour best to save the environment by writing about the hazards of used motor oil and called it George. I hoped, in 1992, that by highlighting the hazards someone, some body or other had taken me on and would deal with the menace of dirty, dangerous oil polluting our soils, our water resources, our rivers and streams.

I wasn’t expecting the problem to be solved overnight; but with the coming into being of first the EMA and then the Environmental Commission, the passing in Parliament of the Water Pollution Rules and the Amendment to those rules becoming law in 2006, I hoped – rather than believed that “matter fix.”

It was just as well I wasn’t driving when, a couple of weeks ago, my environment-conscious garage proprietor told me that the previous week who or whichever body takes and deals with the used oils he most scrupulously collects to take from his place of business to Sea Lots (or thereabouts) had flatly refused to accept the drums he’d taken there from Diego Martin.

Obviously it was, indeed it is time for this column to revisit the problems of the disposal of highly hazardous waste motor lubricating oils. So it was back to the drawing board – or rather, a search through my database to refresh my (and Newsday readers’) memory on the hazards of waste motor oil. In 1992 I wrote, “Used engine oil is hazardous waste. There is no doubt about that. The oil drained from your scooter, motorcycle, car, taxi bus, truck or tractor contains: arsenic (is that poisonous enough for you?), chlorine, lead, sulphur, zinc, copper, benzene, toluene, phenol, chlorinated hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls – in short, a deadly cocktail par excellence.”

In 1992 there were 183,597 vehicles registered for use on the highways and byways of Trinidad and Tobago. One shudders to think how many more cars are on the roads today since the wholesale importation of “foreign used” cars put the price of private cars within the reach of many more people, with all of these vehicles needing oil changes from time to time (if not always at regular intervals).

At this point let’s note that small cars need four litres of oil to keep their engines running smoothly, larger cars need five litres, buses, trucks and tractors need even more. If every one of those vehicles had an oil change every 5,000 kilometres or every six months – back in 1992 it was estimated that at least 1.23 million litres of lubricating oil would be changed every year.  

I’ve not been able to check on the number of vehicles registered for use on our roads in 2011, but at a rough guess I imagine near 1.5 (if not more) million litres of lubricating oil is changed every year.

In 1992 there were no laws to prevent anyone dumping hazardous waste motor oils wherever and whenever they pleased. It grieves me to report that 18 years later the Waste Management Rules (2008) are still in draft, still awaiting their turn for a day in the Red House while our elected masters squabble over who did what to whom, spent how much for whatever, drone on and on about less and less in the Parliament chamber.

Meanwhile hundreds, if not thousands of motorists and mango tree mechanics dump the used motor oils they change themselves down the nearest drain with no one to say them nay. However, I admit that even if the Waste Management Rules were passed and enacted tomorrow, given our record on enforcing environmental laws, one doubts many, if any, culprits will find themselves hauled before a magistrate and ordered to pay fines for dumping used oil …

So far as DIY motorists and mango tree mechanics are concerned there’s been no change in the law although one hopes that some DIY motorists are becoming environment-conscious and are taking their used oils to companies in the business of dealing with waste lubricating oil to dispose with that hazardous substance so that it poses no threat to our environment.

When I called NP to ask why my garage proprietor hadn’t been able to offload used motor oil the young lady I spoke to said she’d have to check with her boss and would call me back – but that curious tale must wait for next week. 

ARTICLE # 2 

The A To Z For A Green 2011

Newsday _ Thursday, January 13 2011

Well, Hello 2011! For some of us, you couldn’t have come soon enough! If you have been “putting of your greening”, I am going to give you the A to Z list to get the ball rolling. 

A – Appliances: Buy energy efficient appliances when you need to make a replacement.

B – Bamboo, Biodegradable, Baking Soda: Buy sustainable bamboo products (everything from towels to furniture). Think biodegradable for all product choices (detergents, cleaners, bath products, etc). Use eco-friendly baking soda for everything from health and beauty to cleaning your home.

C – CFLs, Cleaners, Compost: Replace your lights with compact fluorescents. Skip the chemicals in traditional, commercial cleaners. Start composting food scraps and other biodegradable products.

D – Donate, Disposable: Donate your usable but no longer needed clothing, books, toys, household items and furniture to organisations. Eliminate anything intentionally disposable from your purchases.

E – Electronics: Turn off electronics, computers, lights and all household appliances that aren’t in use.

F – Food: Make healthy choices of organic and natural foods instead of those filled with preservatives , artificial ingredients and chemicals.

G – Global Warming, Glass, Greywater: Accept that global warming is real and we’re the only creature on the planet that can do something about it. Recycle all glass. Learn all the ways to put your greywater to use.

H – Home: Make your home safe and clean and simultaneously non toxic, cutting out all chemicals.

I – Ideas: Share what you know and learn from others. The ideas from our grandparents are excellent principals to follow as well.

J – Journey: Give yourself credit for the things you are doing and accept that going green is truly a journey.

K – Kids: Get your kids involved. When they learn to respect the environment early in life, the lessons will stay with them forever.

L – Landfills, Local: Remember that everything you toss in the trash winds up in a landfill, polluting the soil and water. Buy local at every opportunity, especially for produce.

M – Meat, milk: Choose organic meal and milk to avoid antibiotics, steroids and growth hormones.

N – Newspapers: When you need to keep something hot or cold in transport, newspaper is an amazing insulator. When you are done, recycle them, always!

O – Organics, Outdoors, Oceans: Buy as many organics as you can… simple as that. Getting outdoors will remind you of the beautiful world we are trying to preserve and even if you not near to the ocean. Remember that we must prevent them from being polluted.

P – Plastic, Paper: Avoid the excessive use of plastics or at least make sure that the plastic are truly recyclable. Same goes for paper. Recycle every unneeded piece of paper that comes your way.

R – Recycle, Re-usable Bags, Rain Barrels: Not recycling is inexcusable. Recyclables should never be thrown in the trash. Invest in reusable shopping bags and stop contributing to the landfills. Set up rain barrels to capture water for use around the yard.

S – Schools: Get involved in your children’s school or schools and put together programme to help embrace recycling and the environment.

T – Trash, Trees, Travel: Make a conscious effort to reduce your weekly trash by not buying over-packaged products or buy only products in recyclable packaging. Don’t cut down healthy trees…they are more valuable than just their visual beauty (think air quality, soil preservation wildlife habitat…the list goes on and on). Don’t leave your green principles at home when you travel, take them with you!

U – Ungreen: When you see a “wrong” you can make it “right”. Speak up, help others and make a change that can make a difference.

V – Vinegar, volunteer: The use of distilled white vinegar is endless. Buy some for cleaning, cosmetic uses, deodorising and pest and weed control. Volunteer your time for an environment cause.

Y – You: (You knew that one was coming too, right?) but sincerely, the changes you make in your daily life are all up to you. Take what you know and put it to good use.

Z – Zero-waste: Buy kits and containers that can be reused for lunch time (or anytime) so that you don’t contribute to the trash by a child’s lunch.

There it is – A to Z – and I feel that I only scratched the surface! But the main mission is to simply get started. Don’t wait for tomorrow, and don’t expect to have you do it all at once, but do admit that we can all make little changes that amount to one enormous difference. 

ARTICLE # 3

Eco Friendly New Year Resolutions

Newsday _ Thursday, December 30 2010

We all know the New Year gives us a clean slate to work with when it comes to making improvements in our daily lives. Typically we resolve to exercise more, eat better, stick to a budget or pick up that new hobby. For this year I have compiled a list of eco friendly habits that are easy to adopt and stick to:

1. I resolve to kick the plastic water bottle habit: Plastic water bottles are bad for the environment, no question. Last year Americans consumed over 50 billion of them. This is a serious habit we here in Trinidad and Tobago need to kick and quickly. Bring your own refillable stainless steel bottle filled with water from home whenever you go out. If the water from your tap isn’t to your liking then add a filtration system or get one of those pitchers that sit on the counter. Trust me; bottled water that you have purchased isn’t that much better than water from your tap.

2. I resolve to bring my own bags with me to the grocery store: This is a no brainer. Most of us by now should have already adopted this habit. Try to take it one step further by bringing your own bags whenever you go shopping for anything in general, not just food.

3. I resolve to walk or bike whenever possible: This is one that I will admit took me awhile to get used to, as I love the privacy of being in my car alone.

4. I resolve to make small changes at home: Small changes at home can have a huge impact overall if everybody did them. Start by unplugging appliances when not in use like the toaster, coffee maker or microwave. Turn off the TV if no one is watching it. Also, connect your computer and peripherals to a power strip; that way at the end of the day you can disconnect them with just a flick of the switch (its best to turn off your computer instead of leaving it in hibernate or stand-by mode.) Wash your clothes in cold or the very least warm water and use the shorter cycle. Finally, change out your light bulbs to compact flourescent lights (CFLs).

5. I resolve to start composting: This is a hard one, I know. I falter with this one myself but I do keep trying to stick with it.

6. I resolve to use less paper: This one is easy and I have been having great success with it! First, I buy recycled content for everything (home and office). Next, I use both sides of the paper before I put it in a bin. Meaning, if one side is still clean then I put in my printer or fax; also I only print out materials or e-mails if I absolutely must have a hard copy of the item.

7. I resolve to volunteer for something this year: Even if it’s just one day, give your time to a beach or park clean-up team in your neighbourhood. If you really want to make a big difference then put in sometime in a community garden. If there isn’t a community garden then start one. Find a natural spot that you can easily get to on a somewhat regular area and keep it litter free. All you need is a pair of work gloves, a supply of garbage bags, and a bit of time.

 
8. I resolve to use eco-friendly cleaning products at all times and to avoid chlorine. There are so many good and effective green products on the market now, that there is no excuse for this one. You can even do a lot with just baking soda, white vinegar and water!

9. I resolve to pay attention to where my food comes from: I am tempted to preach “buy local”, but realistically I know that is not always possible. But you can make sure your food (and even clothing) is produced in an ethical and sustainable way. So pay attention to labels such as the USDA organic and Fair Trade.

10. Write a letter or (two). You don’t need to chain yourself to a tree in order to have your voice heard. Most large environmental organisations have information on their websites for contacting people in various levels of government regarding environmental issues. The pen can be mightier than the sword.

11. I resolve to lead by example: Pass this article along to your friends and families as we all can use reminders every now and then on how to be eco-friendly this year!

Happy green new year…

Sharon Wilson is the manager/founder of Earth Scents handmade soaps and candles. Please send comments queries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

ARTICLE # 4 

Recycling Plastics, Saving TT’s Landfills

By ANNE HILTON

Newsday _ Thursday, September 30 2010

IT WAS only when I drove into the compound on Maingot Street, Champs Fleurs, saw the huge container waiting for shipment and the piles upon piles of waste plastic, some ready for shipment some waiting to be ground or compressed before shipping, that I understood why Trevor Williams felt both hurt and saddened that Alan de Boehmler of Waste Disposals Limited hadn’t mentioned the role “Recycling in Motion” plays in saving TT’s Landfills in general and the Beetham in particular from being swamped in waste plastic.

However Williams was in Canada on business on September 20 when I went to Champs Fleurs to check out Recycling in Motion. It was Production Co-ordinator Koreena Denoon Smith who welcomed me into the office and gave me a guided tour of the operation.

We began with Khadijah Thomas who was ‘feeding’ green plastic bottles into a machine that sucked them in, ground them up and dropped the resulting pellets into large, strong, purpose constructed cardboard boxes ready for shipment.

That machine, I learned subsequently, wasn’t the only one for grinding waste plastic, unfortunately the heavy duty machine that dealt with the large blue plastic carboys for drinking water had broken down awaiting spare parts so that Philip Zephyrine was having to cut them into sizeable pieces using a saw.

I watched David Danclare operating the machine compacting loose sheets and strips of plastic into bales and driving the fork lift removing filled boxes of pellets and stacking them ready to pack into containers for shipment..

That is the extent of recycling taking place in Recycling in Motion. However, there was much to learn from Koreena after our tour. Williams was rightly indignant, I learned, due to the fact that he dealt with the waste plastic that Waste Disposals collected from houses in Victoria Gardens and Blue Range, in bins from Tru Valu, Diamond Vale, Dunross School, Diego Martin Secondary on Wendy Fitzwilliam Boulevard, the Marlins Swimming pool — and, perhaps, some other parts of Diego Martin.

Recycling in Motion also accepts waste plastic recovered from the Beetham by scavengers with a social conscience. In fact any community group who has transport (a pick-up or truck) can take the waste plastic collected from the neighbourhood to Maingot Road.

Checking with the Greenlight Network, Recycling in Motion accepts from householders plastic shopping bags, Styrofoam cups and plates, bottles for cleaning products, shampoo, yoghurt containers, toothpaste and cosmetic tubes, oven ready meal trays etc. etc BUT they must be clean, you have to wash them and sort them according to type and colour and put them in preferably clear plastic bags obtainable from Rotoplastics or Rope Works in Arima, or in regular black garbage bags.

 
There’s no need to make an appointment, the compound is open (for who would steal waste plastic?) you just drive in and leave your contribution to recycling and saving the landfill. However, the majority of waste plastic I saw being processed that morning came from industry. Recycling in Motion collects waste (production reject) plastic from the bottlers: Coca Cola, Pepsi, RNC. They also collect from Angostura and Trinidad Ropeworks (garbage bags rejects and trimmings, Price Smart bag rejects). Then having collected their waste plastic, Recycling in Motion issues each supplier of waste plastic with a Certificate of Destruction to comply with environmental regulations.

The green bottles I saw Khadijah ‘feeding’ into the grinder seemed to be a spoiled batch of Sprite bottles, the blue were, of course, carboys for water. Koreena gave me a lesson on dealing with waste plastic. She said the plastic was separated first according to type; there is PET plastic (juice, water bottles) High Density Polyethelene (HDP) Poly propolene, Poly carbonate (the carboys for water)— and grinders to deal with each type of plastic.

The next step is to sort the waste according to colour (green, clear, black etc) and the ones with labels printed in the plastic like Coca Cola bottles.

Koreena estimates that, on average, Recycling in Motion deals with about 72,000 lbs of plastic waste every week, that every day Recycling in Motion receives three to four truckloads of plastic waste from industry and ships, on average two containers a week to customers in the US, Canada, China, Brazil.

She said Recycling in Motion pays industry the cost of transport for High End Plastic (plastic that’s never been used such as rejects from manufacturing and is in high demand on the international market). However, she said some companies do minimum recycling by melting down and re-using their high end plastic wastes.

Koreena also told me there is some small-scale recycling, that some small businesses use waste plastic to manufacture items of furniture — and it’s those small businesses I’ll be visiting (I hope) in the next article on this series of recycling plastic in Trinidad — and Tobago??