Jamaicans will soon begin to feel the real effects of the global financial meltdown. However, we in Jamaica can 'tun wi han and mek fashion'.

Since our country does not have financial resources to cushion the blow, let us use our garbage to generate wealth.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Use the unoccupied buildings in the downtown Kingston area to recycle plastics (bottles and 'scandal bags'), styrofoam and old tyres. Recycling of old tyres can produce new ones.

2. Build a biodigester at the Coronation Market to recycle food refuse, which is in abundance; also at the Riverton city dump. Methane gas can be generated from it.

3. Use the sewage to produce fertiliser for the farming communities and horticulturalists.

4. Recycle glass bottles.

Jamaicans generate an abundance of garbage that is used to block our drains and gullies. This garbage can be used as raw material for manufacturing and recycling plants can generate income for the communities.

Recycling industry

I remember when I was growing up, neighbours used to walk with a bag to collect drink bottles thrown on the street because they could be exchanged for cash. We used to call them 'bottle police'; but it reduced the litter of the streets considerably.

In the same way, if citizens know that they would benefit financially, they would pick up these plastic bottles, styrofoam and old tyres and bring them to a recycling plant. It would not only benefit them, but reduce the millions of dollars spent yearly to clean drains and gullies during the hurricane season.

The local-government offices could provide garbage bags for citizens to separate the garbage for the biodigester and the recycling industry.

When Jamaica has mastered the production of these end products it could import garbage from its CARICOM partners.

Since we can produce E10 gas from ethanol, I am sure we can do something constructive with our garbage.

These are my few suggestions. I am sure that the Scientific Research Council could assist with the technical part of it.

I am, etc.,

DORRETT FORSYTHE

dorrettmckreith@yahoo.com

Kingston 8