You know, I'm frequently told that the waste issue in the DR is nigh insolvable and the likelihood of finding and fostering economically viable recycling projects -- let alone those that generate employment for the poor -- is slim to none. The naysayers have a long list of arguments you're probably familiar with -- poverty means no interest in protecting the environment, cultural mindset, recycling is uneconomical, yadda yadda yadda
Then I read something like this story about an innovative project started by a poor community in Rio's north side, and I think to myself why not in the DR?
You may not be able to follow the Portuguese in this article, but the pics should give you the gist. The poor folks with an innovative idea formed a co-op and are now making furniture out of empty used (but cleaned) plastic (PET) soda bottles! And the furniture is durable and selling pretty well...
http://www.ecopop.com.br/frame.asp?url=/publique/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=136&sid=2
I'd like to invite DR1ers to suggest their own unusual, innovative and/or "thinking outside of the box" ideas to tackle the DR's various waste issues, and/or promoting recycling.... Besides worm composting, that is, since we've already covered that extensively in a prior thread!
How's that for a way to start 2005 in the Environment Forum? :glasses:
Then I read something like this story about an innovative project started by a poor community in Rio's north side, and I think to myself why not in the DR?
You may not be able to follow the Portuguese in this article, but the pics should give you the gist. The poor folks with an innovative idea formed a co-op and are now making furniture out of empty used (but cleaned) plastic (PET) soda bottles! And the furniture is durable and selling pretty well...
http://www.ecopop.com.br/frame.asp?url=/publique/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=136&sid=2
I'd like to invite DR1ers to suggest their own unusual, innovative and/or "thinking outside of the box" ideas to tackle the DR's various waste issues, and/or promoting recycling.... Besides worm composting, that is, since we've already covered that extensively in a prior thread!
How's that for a way to start 2005 in the Environment Forum? :glasses: