Increasing Awareness on the Impacts of Improper Solid Waste Disposal on Public Health, Livelihoods, and the Marine Environment

In 2022, JET received funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) to deliver the project Increasing Awareness on the Impacts of Improper Solid Waste Disposal on Public Health, Livelihoods, and the Marine Environment. This project seeks to improve citizens’ knowledge about the impact of poorly handled waste on public health and the environment while encouraging personal responsibility for the generation and disposal of waste. This project will focus on several components of JET’s previous Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica project, namely the Public Education campaign, the Cleanup Network and Model Communities. A new component focusing on advocacy surrounding updating the solid waste management policy has been added.

Raising public awareness will be addressed by promoting new and existing audio-visual content and various promotional events to engage with the public on key campaign messaging. Traditional and social media will reach Jamaicans across the island, while promotional events will be targeted in areas with known solid waste management issues, namely Kingston, Montego Bay and Portmore. Through the Cleanup Network, 25 community-based organisations will be provided with kits and guidance for conducting a community cleanup activity, whether coastal or inland.

The communities of Rose Town in Kingston and Wickie Wackie in St. Andrew have been selected to be a part of the Model Communities component of the project to assist with improving their waste management practices through increased waste receptacles within the communities, waste management workshops with community members by JET, and the establishment of recycling programmes.

If you are interested in supporting or partnering on this project, please reach out to us at jamaicaenvironmenttrust@gmail.com.