NEWSLETTER Issue 3 / September 2014
Recycling:
A New Way of Life
JPS’s
Banna Bags
Recycle Now Green Tips
RESPECT FOR COMMUNITY. RESPECT FOR ENVIRONMENT
Recycle Now: Economic Opportunities “There is more than enough business for us all.”
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#liveecco #livegreen
Recycle Now’s Ann Marie Rodriques firmly believes this. Opportunities abound. ECCO Magazine sat down in her office recently to obtain an update on the public-private sector partnership, which was announced in February this year and is now gathering momentum. “A major objective is employment,” asserted the soft-spoken Business Development Manager. As it gradually rolls out island-wide, Recycle Now will hire at least 300 Jamaicans through the Jamaican Government’s Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). What kind of jobs, we ask? Many will be collecting recyclable material in communities, driving trucks and working at the drop-off facilities. Others will find entrepreneurship opportunities. A primary aim is to get those plastic bottles (Pet 1) off the streets, gullies and public spaces where they are thrown; and at the same time, to encourage the careless, inconsiderate Jamaicans who discard their rubbish anywhere to simply stop doing it. Ideally, the plan is to collect the bottles before they are thrown away, through proper garbage separation and disposal. If the bottles have already been dumped “we will find them where they are,” says Rodriques. That means engaging a range of partners – groups and individuals – who are prepared to clean up their communities, picking up and depositing the bottles at designated collection points. In addition to JEEP (“a major partner”), the 4-H Clubs, Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), the Japan International Co-operation Agency’s volunteer corps and of course the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA) are among those coming on board. Activities were stepped up on Labour Day this year, and Recycle Now was a major sponsor of the International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 20, along with JET and Green Your Biz Newsletter • August 2014
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the Tourism Enhancement Fund. Where will the Recycle Now drop-off points be located? The aim is to have one in every parish. So far, facilities in Kingston, St. Mary and St. Elizabeth are coming on stream. Rodriques expects to establish the St. Mary depot in Port Maria by the end of September, acknowledging the support of the Parish Development Committee. The Kingston depot at Lyndhurst Road has a recycling plant, and there are drop-off points around the city. The depot in Montego Bay focuses on the hotels; they produce a huge amount of plastic and paper, says General Manager Marlon Farquharson. “It is complex…It does take planning,” concedes Rodriques; but they are taking it one step at a time. Collection, storage, transportation and logistics have always been major aspects of the recycling process. Incidentally, there are garbage disposal sites operated by the NSWMA in eight parishes across the island, including the largest at Riverton, and a number of informal dumps. So who is already engaged in recycling in Jamaica? Rodriques and Farquharson told ECCO about a chance meeting with an elderly man in downtown Kingston. His handcart was loaded with plastic bottles; by selling them, he has enough money to provide school lunch for his family. There is a new company in Portmore, started by young University of Technology graduates. Collection takes place in Tivoli Gardens and Seaview Gardens/Phase Two. “People are collecting independently,” observes, Rodriques. “We just need to find them.” Ideally, she would like
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Recycle Now to find and focus on the many locations (for example, in western Jamaica) where no recycling ventures exist. “That is not outside of our planning,” Rodriques confirms, reflecting on future expansion. The aim of Recycle Now is not to compete with those already working in the field, whether large or small. “We want to work with them,” stresses Rodriques. In fact Farquharson, the expert on all things mechanical, says Recycle Now will offer training, advice and assistance to all organizations and individuals who register with them. They will provide convenient collection bags (120 x 90 x 90). He reiterated his colleague’s earlier point: “We want to be enablers, enhancers. We want to increase employment.” “I am very optimistic,” Rodriques adds. “We are building on what already exists.” She points to a growing awareness among young Jamaicans, and the important role of non-governmental organizations. The public and private sector partners came on board willingly; it was not necessary to twist their arms. Ignoring the remarks of some who are already predicting failure, Rodriques and Farquharson are undeterred. “People are calling to say they have collected and want their plastics picked up. They want to be involved.” The interest is there; the goodwill is there, and they plan to build on it. “We are very prepared to do what it takes,” says Rodriques firmly. “It’s all about people.”
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Back to School, Sustainably! JPS’s BannaBags It’s that time of the year again. Many parents have been struggling with long lists of necessities for their children returning to school. One of the priciest (but most essential) items, without a doubt, is the school bag. So how to produce school bags cheaply, sustainably - and right here in Jamaica? For Tricia Williamson at Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) inspiration came from Africa. In Ghana, South Africa and elsewhere, old billboards are being recycled to make schoolbags. Tricia’s mind turned to the stacks of
obsolete vinyl banners in JPS’s storerooms around the country… And BannaBags were born. Her boss, Winsome Callum, Director of Corporate Communications “jumped at the idea,” notes Tricia, who is the Social Media & Online Communications Manager at JPS and BannaBags Project Manager. “In fact, our President & CEO, Kelly Tomblin is one of our biggest supporters and recently signed on as our first Gold Sponsor, personally donating US$1,000 to the project.” With the support of Project Coordinator Shenee Tabannah, BannaBags was off to a roaring start. In our search for the right partner, Shenee reached out to HEART Trust NTA’s Garmex Academy, the skills training center well known for its high standard of work. In the collaborative effort, JPS provided HEART Trust NTA with the materials and designs and the trainees at the institution created the bags. Under Phase One of the project, 100 brightly coloured bags and 100 very neat pencil cases were produced. JPS employees were asked to nominate a student in need, and personally donated the bags filled with school supplies to the children. They loved their bags and pencil cases. Tricia tells ECCO Magazine: “When I handed out the first ten bags, one little boy grabbed his BannaBag and happily ran away with it!”
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That’s because BannaBags are special. Made from recycled vinyl, which might otherwise end up at Riverton City Dump (and we don’t want any plastic there), each one is unique. They are colourful and supple, padded inside, and delightfully soft and smooth to the touch. Unlike many costly imported bags, they are waterproof too – and almost indestructible! Now, on to BannaBags - Phase Two. JPS is currently inviting corporate Jamaica to dig up all its old, useless banners and donate them to the project and arrangements to donate can be made by emailing the project team at bannabags@jpsco.com. ImageOne, Supreme Ventures, Jamaica Observer, ATL, AmCham, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Sportsmax, Grace Kennedy, and others are already on board. The project team aims to have 1,000 more BannaBags to donate in December this year, ready for next term. And, of course, Tricia hopes the programme will continue into next year and beyond. “We are getting billboards now, from Image One,” Tricia says. Billboards change regularly, so there is more recycling potential there. And one billboard makes a heck of a lot of bags. The eco-friendly bags cost 80 per cent less to produce, Tricia estimates, when compared to other more expensive options. What is more, their production supports communities, creates temporary jobs
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and offers more training opportunities. They are good for our trade balance, too. They are Made in Jamaica! Footnote: Continuing the focus on education, the JPS Foundation challenged the company’s workshop to come up with a creative recycle project for International Literacy Day (September 8). Within two days, the employees built a wonderful “tree bookcase” made with recycled material that was lying around in the workshop. The base was the trunk of an old lime tree that once stood in the yard of the Rennock Lodge Basic School, one of the firm’s adopted model schools. It is now filled with books from a JPS book drive. So, don’t stop there! What next, JPS? You’re on a roll!
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Tips for Greening Your Work Space SolarBuzz CEO and Energy Consultant Jason Robinson offers some great advice on implementing sustainable practices – for businesses large and small. These tips will help your business save money, as well as energy.
Install motion detectors on lights that are in public spaces such as the bathroom or copy room. Service the breaker panels annually; dust affects circuits and can cause burnouts.
Install high efficiency air conditioners (inverters). These save 30-40% more energy than a normal air conditioning system.
Invest in power strips that can turn off the employees’ entire workstations easily.
Replace compact fluorescent lights that are used more than five hours a day with LED (light emitting diode) lights.
Treat glass that gets direct sunlight with an energy coating. This will keep out heat and ultra-violet (UV) rays and cut the glare while still letting in natural light.
Install timers on refrigerators more than five years old, allowing them to turn them off for a few hours every night.
Make sure the building envelope is treated
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with energy efficient products. Treating the roof with polyurethane foam has proven to help reduce the heat coming into the building through the roof. Treating the glass with energy efficient coating also blocks the heat from entering the building. If you reduce the amount of heat entering the building you cut back on AC usage. Businesses should give one employee the responsibility of ensuring all unnecessary computers and other machines are turned off when not in use - especially at closing time. Don’t forget to monitor water use: Check pipes regularly to ensure there are no leaks. If there is a leak, you will be billed even if it is not your fault! Use the “Cloud” more to store and save documents. Cut down on your printing and hard copies!
Motivate your staff to develop an energy and sustainability “consciousness.” Rewarding staff for electricity-saving efforts is a great way to get them to care about a company’s energy bill. Jason recommends that businesses have an energy audit done. This is a report breaking down a client’s energy usage by area and highlighting the major energy usage problems. The energy audit includes recommendations along with the cost and payback of those recommendations. This helps the client to decide where to invest first in the efficiency project. An energy audit is well worthwhile; most banks require an audit or solar analysis to qualify for energy loans. So what are you waiting for? Start greening your business, save the planet and save money too!
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In the Jamaican national anthem, we ask “Teach us true respect for all”. This is the basis for RESPECT Jamaica. This initiative encourages us to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity all around us and in each person we meet because everyone - no matter who they are or how they are – should be respected.
The land we live in – our island home - must also be given due consideration. It is our home and we depend on it for our most basic needs – food, water and shelter. We must therefore also see RESPECT for the environment, by all people, as it is an essential part of our vision for Jamaica.
RESPECT Jamaica is a multi-corporate initiative promoting the value of showing respect and good manners to all people as essential components of making Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business. We encourage the inclusion of people of varying race, religion, class, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, and/or special needs as deserving of respect. It also extends to showing respect for our island home and respecting and protecting the environment.
It is time to take action—to speak out and stand up against prejudice in support of those who are marginalised and vulnerable—to make positive changes in our communities so our children will learn RESPECT, give RESPECT and enjoy a safe, cohesive and just society. RESPECT Jamaica is therefore needed bring people together for nation building and to build a brighter future for our children and engender a society that is a more hospitable place for everyone.
What do we mean by RESPECT?
RESPECT is defined as: “the deference to a right; proper acceptance or courtesy; the condition of being esteemed or honoured.” We believe that everyone - no matter who they are or how they are – should be afforded that basic right. Respect means the little things like saying good morning, holding open a door, saying please and thank you as well as the big things like treating all people with due deference, speaking out against injustice and standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. It is giving up a seat for an elderly person, calling out inappropriate behaviour - and everything in between. Green Your Biz Newsletter • September 2014
Why RESPECT Jamaica?
Who is Involved?
The RESPECT Jamaica Advisory Board comprises some of the leading lights in corporate Jamaica. Each will contribute their time, thoughts and influence in steering and shaping combined activities and, of course, bring their own staff, customers and other stakeholders under the RESPECT Jamaica banner. Contact RESPECT Jamaica to get involved or to learn more about the initiative info@respectjamaica.com #RESPECTJamaica www.RESPECTJamaica.com www.facebook.com/RESPECTJamaica www.twitter.com/RESPECTJamaica
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Encouraging a Happy Work Environment Many of us in the working world go through our days without thinking about where we spend our time. Say you live in Portmore, on average you spend upwards of half an hour travelling each way. Add to that the drop-offs of the children and that inches up to an hour each trip. While time spent at home may equate to between 12 and 14 hours, at least seven of those are spent blissfully in sleep. What does this all mean? Much of our waking hours are spent in the workplace. While this doesn't sound like the recipe for a good work/life balance, it is important that the workplace atmosphere helps us to produce our best work. It is true that a happy worker is a productive worker, but how can employees, in conjunction with employers, hit that sweet spot between meeting company objectives and taking care of the welfare of workers? While the aim of business is to make a good return
on investment, it cannot happen in a vacuum. A team of focused, knowledgeable and motivated workers is the main ingredient to recognizing this goal. These qualities can only be achieved through the efforts of both employer and employees. Communication is one of key areas in which some businesses fail to provide an environment that is geared toward encouraging a higher rate or productivity. It is important to convey to staff the goals and vision of the company. If they have a clear understanding of what the company sees at its mission and the path to achieving same, then it is easy for them to see themselves as part of the process in achieving these goals. In cases where internal changes are being made, it should be a priority to inform the members of staff what the adjustments are likely to mean as there may be concerns about job security. A simple email and conveying the information in a staff meaning helps bring clarity and gives employees a chance to ask questions about the things they feel may impact their working experience. Open communication also allows workers to feel connected to the affairs of their place of employment and give them a sense of ownership, which can only have a positive impact on the business. Staff meetings are another way in which is it possible to create a positive experience. A departure from the usual format may be necessary to engenGreen Your Biz Newsletter • September 2014
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der this approach. People need to be validated and as such, a meeting is a good place in which to express appreciation and gratitude to those members of staff who have performed well or above expectations for a particular period. If there is a prize for 'employee of the month', healthy competition can be encouraged. This recognition will encourage and empower people to use their talents with the aim of being similarly recognized. The meetings should also be inclusive, in that people are allowed to express their opinions without fear of retaliation from management. In this kind of environment, individuals will thrive knowing that their effort will be rewarded. Improved conditions are a way in which morale can be kept high and is of benefit to both employee and employer. Small touches such as a comfortable eating area or staff room, gym facilities, water fountains and the provision of lunches all count in the way of improving staff morale. Productivity is that much higher when employees have tangible proof that their welfare is important to their employer. There is nothing worse for an employee than to be asked to produce good quality work with sub-standard equipment. It is possible to get good results while using a slow, buggy computer, however for the person who is asked to use it, the experience will be frustrating and will not encourage them operate at their highest level. While budgetary constraint mean that many workers do not have the benefit of doing their jobs with state-of-the-art equipment, the knowledge that one's employer cares enough to purchase functional machinery or upgrade existing equipment, inspires a higher level of performance.
Social activity is not to be discounted as it pertains to staff comfort. Admittedly, in small companies, it may not be possible to have activities such as sports days or to form sporting teams. However, the onus is on the proactive employer to find ways in which staff can benefit from social interaction. It may be that a retreat or small outing that includes family members is organized as a way of showing appreciation for the team's efforts, particularly when their input results in significant gains for the company. The bane of some employers may be sick days and time taken off by those employees who are in ill-health, have small children or others who are at university. The ability to give and take is important in these situations and the wise employee will understand that while some entitlements are a given as part of our labour laws, we should never give our boss a moment's doubt as to whether we are committed to the job. This may mean giving up some time before or after work hours or arriving at a mutually-beneficial arrangement. At the bottom line, a good boss is like a gem that is appreciated for its qualities and value. In today's challenging job market, employees are expected to carry out their duties responsibly. The employer is obligated to provide conditions under which workers can produce good work. The exceptional boss will go the distance in providing an environment geared toward growth and productivity. A good workplace will encourage open communication, recognize its workers for exception efforts, provide fully-functional equipment and accept that with the human element, there has to be some measure of flexibility in certain situations.
CONTRIBUTORS: Joy Campbell, Emma Lewis Publisher:
Email: info@eccomagazine.com