For the first time, nonprofit Island Green Living was able to offer recycling at St. John Celebration’s Knight’s Ville. Fourteen Island Green recycling bins were strategically placed throughout the Village, which operated from Sunday, June 28 – Saturday, July 4, with permission from the VI Waste Management Authority.
Each day, aluminum cans and ocean-bound plastics were collected and transported to IGL’s recycling facility, where the materials were sorted, crushed, and baled for shipment out of the territory. By diverting these recyclables from the waste stream, the initiative helped reduce the volume of material destined for the already overburdened Bovoni Landfill on St. Thomas and ensured these valuable resources could be recovered and reused.
“We thank everyone who participated in recycling during the St. John Celebration,” said Vice President and Interim CEO Dawn Henry. “This initiative was a natural extension of our island-wide recycling program and marked the first time recycling bins were available at the Celebration. The program was a great success and demonstrated that Virgin Islanders are eager to recycle and recognize its value. We would like to see similar efforts implemented during the St. Croix Festival and St. Thomas Carnival. Ultimately, our goal is to expand recycling territory-wide to help divert these materials from our landfills.”
Henry also extended special thanks to Recycling Manager Akeino Williams, Program Support & Education Assistant Kheyanna Davis, and CJ Scatliffe and John Baker from the recycling team for their outstanding work. Their efforts included constructing bin covers, designing signage, organizing bin placement, conducting daily recyclable collection, and educating the public on proper recycling practices.
“Although this is the first time bins have been available at St. John Celebration, Island Green has been recycling since 2014, and the program has grown exponentially since then,” said President Harith Wickrema. “Recycling is vital to ensuring sustainable resource management, however Island Green advocates for an approach that begins before an item ever reaches the recycling bin. The first priority is to RETHINK consumption and avoid unnecessary purchases, especially single-use plastics: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”
Several members of the Legislature came by during Knight’s Ville to offer their appreciation of the program. “I want to congratulate Island Green Living for this very positive initiative,” said Senate President Milton E. Potter. “It allows us to eliminate the burden from our landfill… and we thank everyone for supporting this initiative.”
“Please keep the island clean,” said Senator Angel L Bolques, Jr. “The Island Green team is truly out here for St. John Celebration. Let’s separate aluminum and plastics and support this effort.”
“I’m in full support of Island Green Living and their recycling initiative at St. John Celebration,” said Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. “It benefits the entire community. It is the beginning of something really big. You’ll see the benefits of it in the future.”
In 2022, ocean-bound plastics recycling was launched in partnership with PADNOS, enhancing the aluminum recycling program already in place. The nonprofit also began the collection of materials via Island Green’s truck at bins around St John. Recently recycling has expanded through an arrangement with YES! Waste Management that includes the collection of recyclables from public and private schools on St. Thomas. To date, 5.2+ million aluminum cans and nearly 170,000 lbs. of ocean-bound plastics have been recycled, keeping these RESOURCES from polluting our land and sea and out of the overburdened landfills.
The public can deposit RINSED #1, 2 & 5 plastics and aluminum cans in Island Green’s specially marked receptacles at the following St. John locations:
Cruz Bay: Main VIWMA site across from EC Gas Station & Alfredo’s Landscaping
Cruz Bay: Bin at Caneel Bay Fuel Dock
Gifft Hill Road: VIWMA site just past Gifft Hill School
Coral Bay: Main VIWMA site across from Love City Mini Mart
Additionally the community can drop off items at Island Green Living’s ReSource Depot located behind VITEMA on Gifft Hill Road just off Centerline.
Island Green Living has an esteemed 22-year history of sustainable programming and conservation in the US Virgin Islands. The organization’s ReSource Depot thrift shop has kept more than a million pounds of building, household, clothing and other materials out of landfills. The nonprofit has worked closely on banning plastic bags, straws, toxic sunscreen, etc., improving food security and greening education with Planet Green Force.
Island Green Living Association is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization on St. John dedicated to sustainability throughout the USVI. www.islandgreenliving.org.
