In a bid to push for environmental awareness, legislation and enforcement in T&T the Guardian Media Group is showcasing best practices from other countries and local recycling experts with our multi media series, Cleaning up the Mess, every Thursday in the Guardian and Sundays on CNC3 at 10.30 am and 6 pm.

IN this week's guest column Christoph Peleikis, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul, Embassy of Germany writes.

When I was asked to be a guest columnist for the T&T Guardian on the German experience pertaining to environmental issues and what T&T could learn from it, one thing immediately came to my mind. That was the expression of perplexity on the face of foreigners being confronted with the numerous bins we usually have in our homes. One for glass, one for paper, one for packaging material, one for biological waste and so on. Can this be an example for Trinidad and Tobago? Separating waste is perhaps one of our pet projects and maybe we exaggerate a little bit. It is, however, part of a cycle that makes most sense and that may be adumbrated by three words: Reduce, reuse and recover.

Germany’s closed cycle management is a good example how environmental policy can contribute to environmental protection, resource efficiency, climate protection—and thus at the same time to greater economic efficiency. The idea to collect different recyclable materials separately and to reintroduce them into the economic cycle was the basis for an act that entered into force during the mid-90s. Today, more than 250,000 people in Germany work in waste management. The annual turnover of waste management exceeds €50 billion which is nearly TT$ 400 billion. More than two-thirds of waste is recycled. These numbers give an impressive idea of how important environmental protection has become for the economy.

One of the keys to waste management policy in Germany is product responsibility. According to our packaging laws, manufacturers have to cater for the recycling or disposal of any packaging material they sell. They are obliged to pay a licence fee of a few cents that is based on the material used in packaging. The fees take into account the cost of collection, sorting and recycling. The system thus encourages manufacturers to cut down on packaging as this saves them the cost of licence fees. The contribution of modern waste management to climate protection is remarkable as well. Over the last 15 years emissions of greenhouse gas pollutants from waste management were reduced by more than 31 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year.

Small island states, such as T&T, are among the first to suffer from the effects of climate change. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by using renewable energies and energy efficient technologies is thus in the country’s best interest. Since 2004, the German Government has been supporting the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP). So far, €6.75 million or approximately TT$54 million has been allocated. German experts are in the region to provide technical and financial expertise to stimulate the investment climate in renewable energies in the Caribbean. In T&T, there is an enormous potential in renewable energies, such as wind and solar energy, as well as for improving energy efficiency.

The usage of energy-saving light bulbs alone would bring down the electricity bill by ten per cent. Using less of the limited natural fossil fuels for the production of energy would also mean that more oil and gas could be used to generate income needed for the sake of the country. I am convinced that the most important issues when it comes to implementing measures to protect the environment are conviction and incentives. People need to be convinced why it is in their own interest to use less resources or not to clog drains with litter. This has to start as early as in school. Apart from that, people need incentives.

When buying a new car, TV set or washing machine, they need to know that at the end of the day they will pay less with certain models as they use less gas, electricity or water. The German Government has established legal and economic parameters for a more efficient use of resources and for the promotion of renewable energies. State funds are for example used to financially support the installation of solar panels on the roofs of private households. And here in T&T the sun shines even brighter than in Germany.

More Info

This week on Cleaning up the Mess on CNC3 on Sunday at 10.30 am and 6 pm Ira Mathur starts a three-part series on the recycling experience in T&T with local waste management experts and practitioners — Christian Scott Quesnel. managing director, Resin Converters Limited; Ricardo Gay, managing director, Technical Systems Limited and Richard Tang, management consultant. Engage with us. Send in your comments and photographs to cleaningupthemess@guardian.co.tt