Plastikeep facing month-end shutdown

The plastic collection and education programme Plastikeep, which has collected more than 700,000 pounds of plastic over eight years, will have to shut down at the end of the month unless it gets help from the Green Fund, says director and founder Rosanna Farmer.

She had previously reported that Plastikeep’s landlord, Scenic View Apartments, had given it an eviction notice for outstanding rent, with a deadline of October 29 to vacate its Maraval premises. The programme, which began in 2010, was previously funded by the Green Fund, but has not been able to access additional funding.

Farmer addressed the situation in a letter dated November 17 to stakeholders, posted on Plastikeep’s Facebook page on Monday.

“After all the work that has been done to educate the public on the importance of recycling, it has come to this. A very sad time indeed. We have two weeks before the bins are removed. Let’s hope we get a positive response from the Green Fund before then. In the mean time, you can voice your concern to those in authority if you so desire. Your support is greatly appreciated.” In the letter Farmer reminded stakeholders of the eviction notice and said neither she nor Plastikeep has the money to pay the rent of $4,500 a month and to date owed $85,500. As for utilities, she said neither she nor Plastikeep can pay for them after November 30, saying she had been funding the costs for electricity, telephone and internet out of her own money.

“In view of the above it becomes impossible for Plastikeep to provide support, communication and bin management beyond the end of the month. I shall be writing the Green Fund informing them of this state of affairs; in the event Plastikeep does not receive funding from the Government, Plastikeep unfortunately will be forced to remove all its bins. I trust that probity will prevail and that we will get the required funding by 30th November,” she wrote.

Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, in a brief telephone interview yesterday, said the matter is still with the Green Fund Advisory Committee, which had not sent a recommendation forward as yet. She previously informed Sunday Newsday that from January 2010 to December 2015 Plastikeep received $10,679,684 in three tranches. She reported the Green Fund Advisory Committee was concerned that Plastikeep has not built the necessary capacity and sustainability to be an independent organisation, there are weaknesses to its approach to its waste-recycling methodology which have not been addressed and a business plan has not been developed.