Background:
In Haiti, there is a distinct smell in the over-crowded capital of Port au Prince: burning trash. With minimal municipal collection for trash or recyclables, there are piles of rubbish smoldering on the side of the road and burning outside homes constantly. The burning rubbish not only causes respiratory problems, but is also causing environmental problems as toxins are released into the atmosphere. In a country where the 80% of its citizens live in poverty, they are literally burning potential income. Partners In Development (PID) has done extensive research and found that services exist in Haiti that provide money in exchange for recyclables. On average, people can earn 7.5 cents for one pound of plastic; 12 cents for two pounds of metal; 53 cents for five pounds of aluminum; 4 cents for one pound of tin.
Project Description:
Funds raised by being in the Alternative Gifts Catalog will allow Partners In Development to initiate a recycling and replant program in Blanchard, a suburb of Port of Prince that is home to several thousand people living in poverty. These start-up funds will allow for recycling education and training; providing families with recycling collection bins; and pick-up/transportation of the recycling to the recycling plant; and will provide all participating families with one fruit tree as incentive for their participation. The fruit trees will not only provide nutrition in a country where food is scarce, but it will also assist the area in preventing erosion and reversing the effects of deforestation.
Benefits of Recycling in Haiti:
Currently in the area we serve, there is no distinction between trash and recycling; all of it is considered “trash” and is either burned, left in piles in every neighborhood, or thrown into the river. The benefits of a recycling program in Haiti are numerous: 1) there will be less “trash”, resulting in fewer rodents who spread diseases in the impoverished nation; 2) less “trash” will be thrown into the river, helping to clean the water supply; 3) by eliminating the burning of plastics that release harmful toxins in the air, it will cut down on respiratory diseases and environmental pollution and; 4) recycling will become an added income source for poverty-stricken families in the program.
Community Pride:
PID program participants are enthusiastic about caring for their community. PID combines a variety of programs to achieve community transformation where hope is often lost in the cycle of poverty. This program will have a dramatic role in community transformation by bringing capital to the area; beautify the region by eliminating piles of plastics, tin, aluminum, and other metals; helping to control pollution; reducing disease spreading rodents; and cleaning the air. Join us in making a difference!
Giving a Trash To Cash Gift Through Alternative Gifts International:
You can support our Trash to Cash Program in Haiti by visiting www.alternativegifts.org and purchasing a gift to support our recycling efforts. You will find us listed under “Collaboration”, featured as project #36. The following gifts are available:
$28 – Prepares one family for self-sufficiency with training, a fruit tree and recycling bins
$6 – Funds promotional and training materials for recycling education
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