~ Inspiring others to look at waste differently ~
By Laura Bijnsdorp
Whether it’s a plastic bottle or a tin can, a load of construction debris or a heap of aged sails, old light bulbs or used coffee grinds; most of us on St. Maarten are throwing these items away at the moment. But you don’t have to! All of these items can be revamped into something new, functional and valuable.
The vision of SXM Innovation Hub, initiated by the Netherlands Red Cross and Stichting Open House, is to inspire the people on Sint Maarten to create locally driven solutions and to work together with partners to address challenges within the community. One of the challenges we are currently facing is our waste-management.
Waste2Work, which aims to motivate persons to look at waste differently, is the first sub-project by SXM Innovation Hub. You can make furniture out of plastic waste or create a solar storage unit out of old yacht batteries, for example. Instead of viewing waste as useless; it can provide many profitable opportunities.
Are you ready to look at our waste and other challenges differently?
Inspiring innovation
“SXM Innovation Hub will be a vibrant creative workspace where valuable ideas are shared, innovative solutions are born, and sustainable businesses can grow on St. Maarten,” explains Madelein Stiekema, Project Manager of SXM Innovation Hub and Waste2Work.
To set innovative ideas and solutions into motion the SXM Innovation Hub will provide a support system for interested aspiring and established entrepreneurs by doing the following:
- Making connections with established entrepreneurs and ideas.
- Providing advice and support on starting a business.
- Offering affordable office and storage space.
- Providing access to a creative workroom equipped with various machines and tools.
- Conducting workshops and events to teach, connect and inspire.
Over the next months, the extensive plans for the SXM Innovation Hub will be executed. A lot of exciting news is coming, so keep an eye out for any updates. In the meantime, interested entrepreneurs, who want to create a business out of waste, can already contact the Waste2Work team and make use of the SXM Innovation Hub services.
Creating opportunities
The name says it all: the goal of Waste2Work is to create work out of waste. Most reusable materials on the island end up on the dump. You are prolonging the lifespan of these materials by recycling and upcycling reusable waste. This is just one of the benefits.
Taking reusable waste and revamping it into something new can also create new jobs and contribute to a diversification of the local economy. In the past few months, the Waste2Work team has been collecting reusable waste materials, holding workshops, connecting international and local entrepreneurs, and supporting a variety of business ideas executed by local entrepreneurs.
“At Waste2Work, we aim to create an environment in which local entrepreneurial activity and innovation are encouraged. Whether you are an entrepreneur with your own ideas, or an entrepreneur who is interested in expanding on existing solutions; Waste2Work is there to support!” explains Madelein.
But entrepreneurs won’t be the only ones encouraged to think outside of the box. It will take the community as a whole to truly make a change in how waste is treated on St. Maarten.
Community effort
To engage the community, Waste2Work has already invited a number of youth groups to join in on upcycling workshops. At the workshops, kids of all ages have learned how to make chairs out of old tires, planters out of plastic bottles and lamps from discarded wood and tin cans. As their location takes form, Waste2Work will be hosting more workshops and events for kids and adults.
At SHTA’s SMILE event on November 2 and 3, Waste2Work will be presenting their project, ideas and entrepreneurs for the first time. Madelein and her team will be doing this through a presentation and interactive stand. The presentation will include an introduction on Waste2Work as well as keynote speaker Paul Schurink, who will talk about alternatives for single use plastics in the hospitality industry.
At the outdoor stand, the Waste2Work team will be creating upcycled products on the spot, so you can see them in action first-hand. Two of the collaborating entrepreneurs will also be present at the stand, excited to showcase their products for the first time.
Madelein: “We are excited to show Sint Maarten our progress so far and hope to connect with many more persons who want to be part of Waste2Work!”
SXM Innovation Hub and Waste2Work are executed by Open House and made possible with collaboration and funding from The Netherlands Red Cross. The initial pilot phase of Waste2Work (January-June) was funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK).
For information on SXM Innovation Hub & Waste2Work, follow them on Facebook or Instagram @waste2worksxm or surf to www.waste2work.com
Interested persons are also welcome to visit Waste2Work next to Divico in Cole Bay between 9:00am and 5:00pm on weekdays. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an appointment.
