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Not enough on recycling, says party
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The Progressive Democratic Party considers that the Government policy on recycling does not go far enough and that further work needs to be done on introducing alternative energies for Gibraltar.
The importance of recycling lies in the safeguarding of natural resources by re-utilising waste otherwise destined for incineration or landfill. lf Government is not actively promoting the use of recycled products then this exercise is nothing other than paying environmental lip service. It has been brought to the PDP's attention that the current recycling bin systems are inconvenient in that they tend to be situated some distance away from current refuse disposal areas. Smaller recycling bins, such as those recently placed by Witham's Road are more user friendly and can be situated closer to current refuse collection sites and even near Main Street and other areas used by tourists and the general public which might also encourage recycling to a greater extent. The recent addition of battery collection bins is a positive step but one that also needs to be widely promoted.
The PDP says it further believes that novel strategies can be put into place in Gibraltar that would help cultivate a desire for the local population to recycle. A case in point is a'reward system'for recycling as can be observed in several Scandinavian countries. In these countries the local residents carry reward cards that are topped with points every time an individual recycles. These can then be exchanged as credit in several shops.
This technique has not only proved to promote recycling but has also demonstrated to reduce litter problems.
The recycling of paper/card and plastic in Gibraltar has been shelved as these will evidently prove to be valuable fodder for our new incinerator. The incineration of these recyclables will be justified under the pretence that thermal energy derived from their combustion will be used as a green energy to drive other operations such as reverse osmosis for the desalination of water. Whilsthis use of heat is commendable, it is by no means a valid excuse for not recycling paper/card and plastic.
Firstly, the incineration of any waste results in the emissions of a myriad of toxins and green house gases into our atmosphere, an area Government needs to tackle considering Gibraltads recent record regarding atmospheric pollutants such as particulates (PM.'o) and nitrogen dioxide (NOr.
Reducing incineration to a minimum is the correct environmental measure to take (whilst naturally making use of any thermal energy produced as a result). Environmentally driven operations can still be achieved without resorting to incineration. This would require taking advantage of Gibraltads enviable geographical location, which potentially allows us to exploit solar, wind and tidal power.
'If Gibraltareally wants to progress in its environmental program, then Government policy should be robust and well thought out and not reactionary and sluggish as it currently appears to be,' said PDP spokesman Dr Gavin Gafan.
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