Dear Editor,
The amount of plastic bottles and the ubiquitous styrofoam material which are found all over Guyana – even in ‘pristine’ places – is staggering and is one of the main reasons for the floodwaters lingering.
These materials should be banned from the country immediately, until Guyana has adequate recycling facilities.
In India, with its more than a billion people, the problem does not seem as mammoth. One does not see plastic bottles littering all over, for example. This is probably because they use more biodegradable material for eating, and much of their garbage is recycled, including plastic bottles. In many parts of the country, food is given in banana leaves. Though not an ideal substitute for styrofoam cups, plates and containers, it is an excellent concept that Guyana could adopt.
Yours faithfully,
Devanand Bhagwan
