PJIAE NV Non-Aeronautical Revenue Officer, Jovanka de Randamie, In-No-Plastic team Project Assistant Zakiya Peterson of Nature Foundation, PJIAE NV Non-Aeronautical Revenue Manager, Maggie Gumbs and In-No-Plastic team Project Coordinator of Nature Foundation Christel Horst.
PHILIPSBURG--By freeing up advertising space in the arrival hall, Princess Juliana International Airport supports Nature Foundation’s public awareness campaign to stop plastics from ending up in the ocean. Five informational posters can be seen upon arrival in St. Maarten.
This In-No-Plastic initiative is aimed towards creating behavioural change in nature preservation. Tourists and residents arriving at the airport will be made aware of the island’s challenge to keep plastic out of its beautiful nature.
St. Maarten struggles with enormous amounts of plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles and much more being littered throughout the island. Research in 2014 has shown that St. Maarten has the highest municipal solid waste of the Caribbean that is generated in kg per person per day, which is 9.7 kg, compared to Curacao’s municipal waste of 0.44kg.
“At this moment plastic is found in the ocean, on the beaches and in other natural sites on St. Maarten,” the In-No-Plastic team of Nature Foundation said. “Plastic breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces when left to the elements, but it never truly disappears. Nano plastic, tiny particles not seen by the naked eye, will end up in our soil, our drinking water, our air and our homes. This will cause unintended consumption of plastic particles by our residents which may impact our health.”
The team referred to research that shows 95% of U.S. residents over the age of 6 have plastic in their blood streams. How high that number is in St. Maarten is currently unknown.
Management of PJIAE NV agreed that it is time for change, “We are extremely thankful to the team at the airport which has been working with us for some time to help this vision become a reality,” the In-No-Plastic team of Nature Foundation said. “A large aspect of this project is helping to spread awareness to both the residents and visitors of St. Maarten. Being able to place these informational signs at the airport will ensure that this important message reaches as many people as possible.”
Nature Foundation’s In-No-Plastic team conducts monthly beach clean-ups with the assistance of local and visiting volunteers. “Join us on January 22 for our next event!”, the team said. “For more information, please visit Nature Foundations social media or volunteer.sx.”
