‘Don’t be a litter bug’ - Environmental Hero begs Jamaicans to stop littering

Environmental activist Paige Garnett has appealed to Jamaicans to embrace proper waste-disposal practices.

The St James native, who won first place in the recently concluded National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) Environmental Hero Competition, notes that responsible waste disposal can help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

"Stop littering and clean up after yourself. [Jamaica] is our home, we all share the same space. If you clean up after yourself, probably you will not have to pay to go into certain facilities that should be enjoyed by us free of cost," she said.

A passionate environmental activist, Garnett is committed to preserving Jamaica's natural beauty. Her goal is create a more sustainable environment for all to enjoy, as well as instil the value of a clean surrounding.

"I like to see a clean environment. I know a lot of people look at it (cleaning the environment) as dirty work, but it is fun to me because you cannot depend on just the Government or private entities to do it. It is all of our responsibility," she said in an interview with JIS News.

Garnett co-founded the Keep Jamaica Clean Series nearly three years ago. Under this initiative, she coordinates tree-planting activities and beach and community clean-up initiatives across the island, collaborating with both private- and public-sector organisations. Additionally, she actively participates in environmental projects as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Montego Bay.

Garnett's unwavering commitment to the environment has led to being crowned NEPA Environmental Hero recently. Jamila Falak, co-founder of the Keep Jamaica Clean Series, secured the second-place position, while student Kristal Mitchell claimed third place.

The inaugural competition, conducted on social media, invited the public to nominate and vote for individuals deserving of the title.

NEPA's Manager for Public Education and Corporate Communication, Angela Hamilton, explained that an environmental hero, in NEPA's view, is someone who values the environment and works towards sustainable development.

"The mission of NEPA is to manage and protect the built environment, but this is something that we cannot do on our own. Jamaica belongs to all of us, and it is important that we all understand that we are to preserve the environment. We all have to get on board and do our part," Hamilton said.