Category Archives: Caribbean

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

Seaweed clogging up the Caribbean could be used to produce sustainable goods, say scientists.

British researchers have been working to track the spread of sargassum which is wreaking environmental havoc as well as causing economic damage across the region.

The huge mass stranded seaweed blocks fishing boats, threatens tourism and disrupts turtle nesting sites, reefs and mangroves.

It also releases toxic gas which impacts human health as well as damaging electrical equipment.

First reported by Christopher Columbus in the 15th Century, floating mats of sargassum have long been present in the North Atlantic.

But since 2011, a giant floating mass has established between West Africa and South America, and increased in size to form the great Atlantic sargassum belt a macroalgal bloom more than 5,000 miles long that is even visible from space and estimated to weigh 35 million tons.

Scientists believe the massive blooms of sargassum are thought to be down to nutrient pollution and warming seas.

Vast quantities of the seaweed end up in landfill each year as it becomes a global environmental issue.

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

Researchers from the Universities of York and Southampton, alongside colleagues from the University of the West Indies, set out to learn more about sargassum to unlock its potential to be used in the production of sustainable products.

But the seaweed's possible uses are limited due to its high arsenic content.

Study first author Dr. Carla Machado said: The small quantities of sargassum that used to wash ashore in the Caribbean provided a habitat for turtles, crabs and fish and contributed to beach formation as it decomposed.

"But the vast sargassum blooms of the past decade are a global problem that will continue to grow and have a major impact in the affected countries."

Dr. Machado, of York University, added: "This research project has brought together international researchers specializing in biomass composition and satellite imaging to track, sample and study sargassum, providing crucial new knowledge of this little-understood macroalgae.

She explained that for a biomass to be utilized, it needs to be "consistent" in its composition to ensures that it can be processed efficiently and behave predictably during production.

The research team tested different processing methods for the seaweed - including shade-drying or freezing - and found the protein content of the seaweed stayed the same.

But the method of processing did affect levels of other components such as alginate, which can be processed for many applications, including biomaterials.

The researchers collected samples of sargassum in Jamaica throughout 2021, which coincided with the April 2021 eruption of La Soufrire volcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent.

Using drift patterns, the team calculated that the sargassum samples they collected in August 2021 would have spent around 50 days exposed to ash from the eruption.

They discovered that seaweed that had likely been in contact with volcanic ash contained less arsenic, but had accumulated other elements including nickel and zinc.

Sargassum in Jamaica in August 2021.

Lead author Dr. Thierry Tonon, also of York University, said: Understanding sargassums response to environmental conditions is crucial for unlocking its biology and potential value.

With the great sargassum belt also receiving additional nutrients from Sahara dust that blows across the Atlantic, huge quantities of the seaweed washing up on coastlines looks set to become the new normal.

The team say more work needs to be done to increase understanding about sargassum and how it is going to behave in future.

Dr. Robert Marsh, of the University of Southampton said: "The sargassum beaching around Jamaica in late summer 2021 carried distinct traces of the volcanic ash that settled upon it around four months earlier, just to the east of St Vincent.

"This novel volcanic tag confirmed that sargassum arrives each summer at Jamaican beaches after a months-long journey drifting with currents from the central tropical Atlantic.

Dr. Hazel Oxenford, from the University of the West Indies, said: Volcanic ash collected in my garden from the St Vincent eruption was used to determine its chemical signature.

"Being able to detect those components in sargassum after it travelled more than 1,700 kilometers across the Caribbean to Jamaica was exciting.

"It confirmed our predicted transport pathway for sargassum, showed that the seaweed lives for at least four months and demonstrates the marine connectivity across the region.

Professor Mona Webber, also from the University of the West Indies, added: It is very important for Caribbean Islands being affected by the sargassum inundation to be able to benefit from its valorization.

"Understanding how the sargassum we collect in Jamaica has changed en route to our shores and factors that could affect especially the arsenic content, will propel us towards safe use of the algal biomass.

See the rest here:

Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Lenoir News-Topic

Ben Bouldin, the vice president of EMEA for Royal Caribbean International, is take up the role of president of Royal Caribbean International, China.

He will oversee the sales, marketing and commercial teams in his new position, the line said.

Zinan Liu, the current president for the China and North Asia Pacific region, will continue in his role as chairman of Royal Caribbean International, Asia.

Bouldin joined Royal Caribbean in 2014 as director of sales for the UK and Ireland and has held his most recent role since 2020. He and his family will move to China in August.

I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the team in China, he said. It is a significant chance for me, both personally and professionally, and Im honoured that Royal Caribbean sees me as the right candidate to steer and grow the business in such a key region for the brand.

Im looking forward to moving to China at the end of August and getting to know my new team.

He added: I will be leaving the EMEA business in a strong position with a fantastic leadership team. Having dedicated my 11 years at Royal Caribbean to this region, Ill always remain proud of the team and my industry colleagues in EMEA.

Angie Stephen, senior vice-president of international, said: The team in China is at a pivotal point as the brand returns to delivering memorable vacations in a market that has been a focus of ours for more than a decade.

There is so much in store as we continue to push the envelope as the top cruise line in China, and I know Bens experience across a wide range of markets will bolster the teams operations, ideas and ambitions for the future.

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Ben Bouldin to head of Royal Caribbean in China - - Cruise Adviser

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Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Herald Palladium

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Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - The Elkhart Truth

Apparently the original version of Jack Sparrow as Disney wrote the character was much more of a straightforward antihero who was supposed to be a bit menacing.

Obviously Johnny Depps interpretation of Sparrow did not align with that, and his mannerisms even early into the first Pirates of the Caribbean are much more comedic. Depp played the character very quirky and flamboyant, even creating Sparrows signature run resembling a distraught chicken.

It trickled back to me that Michael Eisner went on some sort of bent about how Godd***it Johnny Depps ruining the film! Is it drunk? Is it gay? Johnny Depp said of the early response he got to his time on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Some associated with the film truly believe the only way to salvage it was to get rid of Depp and start fresh. And so I fully expected to be fired, and I got a call from the upper echelon at Disney who were courageous enough to ask me, What the f**k are you doing?

Here is the original post:

Pirates Of The Caribbean Changed Completely Because Of Johnny Depp - Giant Freakin Robot

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

Seaweed clogging up the Caribbean could be used to produce sustainable goods, say scientists.

British researchers have been working to track the spread of sargassum which is wreaking environmental havoc as well as causing economic damage across the region.

The huge mass stranded seaweed blocks fishing boats, threatens tourism and disrupts turtle nesting sites, reefs and mangroves.

It also releases toxic gas which impacts human health as well as damaging electrical equipment.

First reported by Christopher Columbus in the 15th Century, floating mats of sargassum have long been present in the North Atlantic.

But since 2011, a giant floating mass has established between West Africa and South America, and increased in size to form the great Atlantic sargassum belt a macroalgal bloom more than 5,000 miles long that is even visible from space and estimated to weigh 35 million tons.

Scientists believe the massive blooms of sargassum are thought to be down to nutrient pollution and warming seas.

Vast quantities of the seaweed end up in landfill each year as it becomes a global environmental issue.

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

Researchers from the Universities of York and Southampton, alongside colleagues from the University of the West Indies, set out to learn more about sargassum to unlock its potential to be used in the production of sustainable products.

But the seaweed's possible uses are limited due to its high arsenic content.

Study first author Dr. Carla Machado said: The small quantities of sargassum that used to wash ashore in the Caribbean provided a habitat for turtles, crabs and fish and contributed to beach formation as it decomposed.

"But the vast sargassum blooms of the past decade are a global problem that will continue to grow and have a major impact in the affected countries."

Dr. Machado, of York University, added: "This research project has brought together international researchers specializing in biomass composition and satellite imaging to track, sample and study sargassum, providing crucial new knowledge of this little-understood macroalgae.

She explained that for a biomass to be utilized, it needs to be "consistent" in its composition to ensures that it can be processed efficiently and behave predictably during production.

The research team tested different processing methods for the seaweed - including shade-drying or freezing - and found the protein content of the seaweed stayed the same.

But the method of processing did affect levels of other components such as alginate, which can be processed for many applications, including biomaterials.

The researchers collected samples of sargassum in Jamaica throughout 2021, which coincided with the April 2021 eruption of La Soufrire volcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent.

Using drift patterns, the team calculated that the sargassum samples they collected in August 2021 would have spent around 50 days exposed to ash from the eruption.

They discovered that seaweed that had likely been in contact with volcanic ash contained less arsenic, but had accumulated other elements including nickel and zinc.

Sargassum in Jamaica in August 2021.

Lead author Dr. Thierry Tonon, also of York University, said: Understanding sargassums response to environmental conditions is crucial for unlocking its biology and potential value.

With the great sargassum belt also receiving additional nutrients from Sahara dust that blows across the Atlantic, huge quantities of the seaweed washing up on coastlines looks set to become the new normal.

The team say more work needs to be done to increase understanding about sargassum and how it is going to behave in future.

Dr. Robert Marsh, of the University of Southampton said: "The sargassum beaching around Jamaica in late summer 2021 carried distinct traces of the volcanic ash that settled upon it around four months earlier, just to the east of St Vincent.

"This novel volcanic tag confirmed that sargassum arrives each summer at Jamaican beaches after a months-long journey drifting with currents from the central tropical Atlantic.

Dr. Hazel Oxenford, from the University of the West Indies, said: Volcanic ash collected in my garden from the St Vincent eruption was used to determine its chemical signature.

"Being able to detect those components in sargassum after it travelled more than 1,700 kilometers across the Caribbean to Jamaica was exciting.

"It confirmed our predicted transport pathway for sargassum, showed that the seaweed lives for at least four months and demonstrates the marine connectivity across the region.

Professor Mona Webber, also from the University of the West Indies, added: It is very important for Caribbean Islands being affected by the sargassum inundation to be able to benefit from its valorization.

"Understanding how the sargassum we collect in Jamaica has changed en route to our shores and factors that could affect especially the arsenic content, will propel us towards safe use of the algal biomass.

Read this article:

Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - The Bryan Times

Summary

Johnny Depp may return at some point in the Pirates of the Caribbean reboot. Depp is known for playing the iconic Jack Sparrow, the leading protagonist of the series. The movies were inspired by the Disneyland attraction of the same name and eventually exploded into a five-movie series that has performed well at the box office. It has earned approximately $4.5 billion and is expected to continue with a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie that is planned to be a reboot for the franchise. So far, plot and cast details are being kept under wraps.

While Depp is unlikely to star in the reboot, there is still a chance that he could appear and potentially reprise his role. When questioned by Entertainment Tonight, producer Jerry Bruckheimer explained that there is still an opportunity for Depp to appear, especially if Bruckheimer has a say. He even admitted that he has already spoken to Depp about potentially appearing in the future reboot. Check out his full quote below:

If it was up to me, of course. I love having Depp... He's a great actor and good friend... I've certainly spoken to him, but we'll see what happens.

Throughout his years with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Depp has defined the role of Jack Sparrow. He always stands out as the joyful swashbuckling pirate, darting from battle to battle as he brings positive energy to every fight. He is often presented as the primary draw on every poster, every trailer, and every scene. Depp is an integral part of the franchise and has become the primary face behind the concept since 2003's Curse Of The Black Pearl's premiere. Without Depp, it is unlikely that Pirates would ever have been quite as successful.

Yet, despite his contributions, the franchise may soon be expanding away from Depp. The highly publicized Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation case brought rebukes against both parties, and the famously family-friendly Disney may want to distance itself from the controversy. While Bruckheimer indicated that they have already invited him back for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean 6 reboot, he will likely not be taking a leading role. Still, any level of involvement indicates that Disney believes that it can still embrace Depp, who won the defamation case against Heard.

Pirates of the Caribbean is a huge Disney franchise that continues to expand, and here's the chronological order for the series to date.

Another reason for Depp's diminishing role is that he may have aged out of his position. At 60 years old, swashbuckling may be behind the actor, who has been transitioning into a role as a director. His upcoming movie Modi, for instance, is directed by Depp and stars Al Pacino. Since the pandemic, Depp has also been taking fewer prominent roles. Stepping back from acting could be a reason for Disney to seek a reboot after two decades of Jack Sparrow. Even so, it is likely that Depp could still return for a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot movie.

During the Depp vs. Heard trial, Depp agreed that "nothing on this Earth" would convince him to return to Pirates of the Caribbean, including $300 million and a million alpacas. Among the other reasons, his lack of willingness to return has left Disney with few options beyond ending the franchise or pursuing a total reboot. Disney considered a Margot Robbie-led Pirates of the Caribbean reboot, but Robbie has indicated that the project has been indefinitely shelved. While producers have indicated that it is still in development, its future is bleak and slow-moving, compared to Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

In December 2022, Bruckheimer insisted that Robbie's spinoff is in development. Its progress remains slow and uncertain, as the studio prefers to focus on Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

Since the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, the franchise has brought in massive profits, which explains the interest in bringing these movies back by any means. Deadline announced a reboot in 2019, but the post-pandemic box office has made it an even more pressing concern. The box office has fluctuated wildly with success levels ranging from the $1.4 billion Barbie to extreme and surprising disappointments with Fast X, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and The Marvels. Any franchise that can ensure a higher likelihood of success is extremely likely to receive approval in a tumultuous Hollywood landscape.

Movies

Budget

Worldwide Box Office

The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

$140 million

$650 million

Dead Man's Chest (2006)

$225 million

$1 billion

At World's End (2007)

$300 million

$960 million

On Stranger Tides (2011)

$250 million

$1 billion

Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

$230 million

$800 million

Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us) and Ted Elliott (The Curse of the Black Pearl) have both been tapped to lead the reboot, which is still in development. It is still early on in the process, as no cast members have been announced and no story details have been revealed. Given Depp's comments in court, it is unlikely that he joins the cast, but circumstances may change as the movie heads toward production. If Depp does return to Pirates of the Caribbean, it will be in a smaller role and to launch a new era for the franchise.

Source: ET

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Johnny Depp's Potential Return In Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot Addressed By Producer - Screen Rant

Summary

Johnny Depp will return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as Jack Sparrow if legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer gets his way. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Bruckheimer, who is best-known for his role in such iconic franchises as Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, Bad Boys, and National Treasure, revealed that he has even had talks with Depp about a comeback and described the actor as a good friend.

If it was up to me, of course. I love having Depp... He's a great actor and good friend... I've certainly spoken to him, but we'll see what happens.

Depps career has infamously taken a back-step in recent years due to legal issues stemming from his marriage to actress and Aquaman star Amber Heard. These included a libel lawsuit in the United Kingdom filed by Depp against newspaper The Sun, which Depp lost, and a defamation lawsuit that Depp filed against Heard, which the actor won.

After saying he would never return to the Disney franchise, Depp has since said he would consider working with The House of Mouse again depending on the project. Anything is possible. If its the right project, hell do it, said an insider about Depps potential return.

While audiences may not see Depp back as Jack Sparrow just yet, they will soon see more from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Earlier this year, while commenting on the state of some of his most well-known franchises, Bruckheimer confirmed the long-running rumors that the Pirates series is getting a reboot...

"It's hard to tell. You don't know, you really don't know. You don't know how they come together. You just don't know. Because with Top Gun you have an actor who is iconic and brilliant. And how many movies he does before he does Top Gun, I can't tell you. But we're gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don't have to wait for certain actors."

The last we saw of Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was in 2017s Dead Men Tell No Tales, which introduced Brenton Thwaites as the son of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, Henry, alongside Javier Bardem as the villainous Captain Armando Salazar. Met with largely negative reviews from critics (Dead Men Tell No Tales sits at a rotten 30% on Rotten Tomatoes), the studio has decided to take the franchise in an entirely new direction.

Various ideas for how to continue the series have since been pitched, including a new tale with Barbie star Margot Robbie in the lead. However, further reports have suggested that the reboot mentioned here by Bruckheimer will be something separate.

So, it's looking like there is still a lot to plunder from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Would you like to see Johnny Depp back as Jack Sparrow ? Or do you think it's time for the franchise to set sail towards something new?

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Johnny Depp Will Return as Jack Sparrow if Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Gets His Way - MovieWeb

After a myriad of controversial breakups, new developments point to Johnny Depps potential return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Johnny Depps role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise not only solidified his status as a cinematic icon but also captivated audiences worldwide, making the character synonymous with the franchise and Captain Jack Sparrow character for decades to come.

However, since his departure from the franchise amidst a whirlwind of legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard and public scrutiny, Depps career has taken various intriguing turns.

As rumors swirl about his potential return to the high seas and Disney contemplates the future of the Pirates series without its most famous pirate, the landscape of this beloved franchise is on the brink of transformation.

Johnny Depp, known for his iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, has been on a dynamic journey since his departure from the franchise. Despite the controversy and legal battles surrounding his exit, Depp has continued to captivate audiences and make significant strides in his career.

One of Depps notable appearances was at the UK premiere of Jeanne du Barry (2023), directed by French filmmaker Mawenn. Depp stars as King Louis XV, a role that initially surprised him but ultimately showcased his versatility as an actor.

The Cannes Film Festival premiere was a reunion with director Terry Gilliam, who directed Depp in cult classics such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). The event was filled with playful banter and heartfelt moments, with Gilliam humorously comparing Depp to the new Jackie Chan due to his dedication to his craft.

Aside from Jeanne du Barry, Depp has also been involved in directing Modi, a film starring Al Pacino. This project highlights Depps behind-the-camera talents and his ability to collaborate with other Hollywood heavyweights. Moreover, Depp has not abandoned his musical passions; he continues to perform with his band, Hollywood Vampires, alongside Joe Perry and Alice Cooper.

Depps commitment to nurturing emerging talent was evident during his interaction with aspiring filmmakers from the Ghetto Film School in London. This engagement underscored his enduring influence and willingness to support the next generation of storytellers.

The possibility of Johnny Depp returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been a topic of fervent speculation among fans and media alike. Despite Depps statement during his 2022 defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard that he wouldnt return to Disney for $300 million, recent developments suggest a potential change in his stance.

During the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, Depp expressed a nuanced openness to future collaborations, including a return to the beloved franchise, if the right project comes along. This sentiment was echoed by a source close to Depp, who indicated that he would consider rejoining Disney if presented with an appealing script and role.

A new report from The Express detailed a look from Johnny Depp that sparked all kinds of speculation from fans.

Now, with production still yet to get underway on Pirates 6, Johnny has coincidentally made an appearance at Pinewood, where parts of the fourth outing were filmed, carrying a pirate book, the report shared.

Though Depp showed up at a former place where a significant portion of the franchise was filmed with a pirate bag, this does not mean that he is returning to the franchise, at least not right now.

The last official statement we heard from Disney came from Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who confirmed that Disney is moving forward with a reboot of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which will not feature Depp in a significant role. However, the potential for a cameo or supporting role remains a possibility. Reports have also surfaced linking actors like Austin Butler and Margot Robbie to the new installments, indicating a shift in the franchises direction.

Despite the reboot plans, fan backlash has been substantial, with many expressing disappointment over the prospect of a Pirates film without Captain Jack Sparrow. This reaction highlights the indelible mark Depp has left on the series and the high expectations fans have for future installments.

As Disney navigates the future of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise without Johnny Depp in a leading role, several strategic decisions and creative directions are being considered to ensure the series continued success.

Firstly, Disneys decision to reboot the franchise indicates a willingness to explore new narratives and characters. With talents like Margot Robbie and Austin Butler being eyed for prominent roles, the studio aims to inject fresh energy into the series. Robbies involvement suggests a potential female-led storyline, which could attract a diverse audience and offer a new perspective within the Pirates universe.

The development of multiple scripts for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 showcases Disneys commitment to keeping the franchise alive, albeit in a different form. One script involving Margot Robbie is particularly intriguing, as it suggests a shift away from the traditional Captain Jack Sparrow-centric plots. This new direction could revitalize the series by introducing innovative story arcs and character dynamics.

Moreover, the potential inclusion of Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri from FXs The Bear indicates Disneys interest in going with a younger cast moving forward. While official confirmation is pending, Edebiris involvement could further broaden the series appeal and modernize its narrative approach.

Despite these new developments, the challenge for Disney lies in meeting the high expectations set by Depps portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. The franchises success is largely attributed to Depps unique blend of humor, charisma, and unpredictability, which brought the character to life. To maintain the franchises appeal, Disney will need to craft compelling stories and develop characters that resonate with audiences as strongly as Captain Jack Sparrow did.

If Depp does not return, Disney could explore spin-offs or prequels that delve into other aspects of the Pirates universe. This approach would allow the studio to expand the franchise while staying true to its adventurous spirit. Additionally, leveraging modern technology and visual effects could enhance the storytelling experience and attract a new generation of viewers.

What do you think of the latest Johnny Depp developments? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!

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Johnny Depp Spotted on Disney Set, 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6' Confirmed - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic

The best place to party on the Caribbean island of Curaao is Mambo Beach, near the islands capital, Willemstad. On weekends, DJs outperform each other, spinning the hottest music at shoreside hotels and beach clubs. Tourists and locals dance the night long, consuming beer, cocktails, rum, soft drinks, and maybe water.

Then, at 4 a.m., when the last partyers have fallen asleep on the beachs sunbeds, the Green Phenix team arrives and starts collecting the garbage strewn by guests.

Green Phenix is a local environmental startup that has set itself a big goal: To clean up Curaao. This is more than a civic duty it may also be a national imperative: Waste disposal has become a serious problem on the island, which is the size of Manhattan, and its getting worse. The same is true on islands across the Caribbean.

In 2020, each [Curaao] islander produced an average of 1,200 kilograms [about 2,650 pounds] of waste per year, says Ciaretta Profas, a government adviser on environmental policy. Thats three times as much as usual in Latin America, she adds. Of course, this isnt because the inhabitants of Curaao are particularly wasteful, but because all the garbage left behind by tourists is statistically attributed to the 150,000 inhabitants.

Profas is now part of an interdisciplinary team overhauling the island nations waste management system, which was underfinanced for more than 20 years and of no interest to politicians, according to a study.

Our goal is to transition towards a circular economy, Profas says. Thats a tall order, but one necessary for Caribbean nations to embrace if tourism is to go on thriving in the islands.

Sabine Berendse, the founder of Green Phenix, is pleased at the creation of hers and similar projects, but shes also skeptical that the pace of implementation can match the urgency of the titanic trash problem.

Currently, Mount Christoffel, with its 1,220 feet [height] 372 meters is the highest point of Curaao, she notes. In five years, Mont Malpais will tower above it. Malpais is the islands only dump, and is managed by a public-private association. Its an old landfill, lacking adequate soil coverage, suffering from toxic leaching and odorous gas releases that are polluting the surrounding area.

Green Phenix was founded in 2019 by Berendse, and inspired by a morning beach walk when she stumbled across dead turtles suffocated in discarded fishing nets. Plastic refuse was everywhere.

Thats when the idea struck her: This sprawling impromptu garbage dump could be a source of regular work, lifting the self-confidence of those living on the margins of society: The unemployed, single parents, and the disabled.

Green Phenix started as a social beach cleanup program, with the salaries of the 24 part-time employees sourced from a state welfare fund. Today, it has morphed into a small business, not only cleaning beaches but also recycling some of the collected plastic waste at an old Caribbean villa on the outskirts of Willemstad.

Plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET, the most common plastic), yogurt containers composed of polypropylene (PP), cleaning agent bottles made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and aluminum cans are now collected and transformed at the recycling facility; the rest of the collected garbage still goes to Mount Malpais.

There seems to be no limit to the creativity practiced by the eight full-time employees at the Green Phenix repurposing plant. Some shred big pieces of plastic, melt them in an oven, then turn them into party decorations. Others produce plastic threads used in 3D printers to make flower vases, dishes and cups. Erwin Sprot, a 64-year-old artist, has his studio here and makes bracelets from can tops and sculptures from the crown caps of beer bottles. For me, its a challenge to make art out of what others throw away, he says.

Much of this output is sold in Irvin Bernards souvenir store at Mambo Beach. Hes the chair of the local business association and closely collaborates with Berendse. We are all benefiting from this project: the hotel owners, the tourists, the locals and the environment, he says.

His association has joined in and tried to cut out the middleman: A few month ago, it set up bins that conscientious tourists now use for waste separation, saving Green Phenix employees the trouble and time of picking up beach trash a bottle at a time.

Information about the innovative cleanup initiative is available at Curaao hotels, and interested tourists can even include garbage activities in their vacation itineraries: visiting the recycling factory and taking part in beach cleanups.

Green Phenix is a successful initiative, but its work is barely a drop in the ocean when compared to the rapidly rising tide of waste overwhelming the Caribbean Basin. This eco-region, composed of small island states, is drowning in waste, especially plastic pollution, which has been increasing exponentially for three decades.

According to the World Bank, the amount of plastic on Caribbean beaches far exceeds the global average, with 2,014 items per kilometer (3,241 per mile), compared to 573/km (922/mi) worldwide. It has become an eyesore and nuisance for tourism, one of the main income sources for most Caribbean nations. With vacation dollars at risk, the problem can no longer be ignored.

But the Caribbean small island states share similar unsurmountable waste management challenges: Land is very limited, so long-term reliance on landfilling is unsustainable. Likewise, exporting waste is increasingly difficult as former buyer countries such as China drop out of the market, while shipping costs have risen sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic.

These small economies also have limited resources, so its challenging to set up financially viable national recycling program; waste quantities are too small and recycling remains an unattractive business because the value of most waste materials is too low.

Plastics add an additional challenge, as there are thousands of chemically distinct varieties (some of them toxic) and they cant be recycled together. Meanwhile, plastic entering the environment and not cleaned up degrades into polluting micro- and nanoparticles.

Add to this a new report warning that the plastic industrys growth trajectory is exponential [with] production expected to double or triple by 2050, along with a just completed U.N. plastics treaty session that made almost no progress toward limiting manufacture.

All this combines to create a pricey crisis for island nations that urgently need solutions.

Thats why we need a regional approach towards a circular economy, Eva Ringhof says. Shes the managing director of Caribe Circular, an initiative co-hosted by the System of Central American Integration (SICA) and the German development agency GIZ.

The program, launched in 2021, is now present in eight SICA member countries, and has four lines of action: Supporting local projects, campaigns and education to raise waste problem awareness; joining with the business sector to design business models for better disposal; and supporting government with management plans and legislation models.

Reduce, reuse and recycle are the three core principles of circular waste management, notes Ringhof, but reducing is key: We are especially focusing on avoidance, she says. According to her data, 80% of the waste floating in the Caribbeans turquoise waters is produced on land and washed to the sea by rivers.

The Caribbean tourism industry is intensely interested in reducing that trash flow using the circular economy as a tool. So Caribe Circular started by working with it. According to Ringhof, 52 large hotels within the eight participating Caribbean countries have already reduced up to 30% of their throwaway waste by adopting some simple but effective changes. Many facilities, for example, now avoid single-use plastics by packaging guest lunches in recyclable or reusable containers, or by installing permanent refillable shampoo dispensers to replace individual plastic-packed personal hygiene products.

Another sector advancing rapidly toward sustainability is agriculture. At a recent workshop, regional participants presented ideas for replacing the black plastic bags currently used to hold seedlings. Many biodegradable products (made cheaply from leftover avocado seeds, banana or coconut fiber) can do the same job.

The change is a bit more difficult when industrial processes are concerned, Ringhof notes. These firms often must compete on a regional or global market, so are extremely cost-focused. Plastic is cheaper than many other materials, so market incentives for replacing it are low, except for businesses eager to present a sustainable image to consumers.

Thats why Caribe Circular is working with Caribbean governments to develop laws that will make it more expensive to use plastics, by taxing plastic packaging or holding producers responsible for the end-of-life consequences of their goods, called extended producer responsibility. Such rules could, for example, require a beverage manufacturer to take back its PET plastic bottles to reuse or recycle them, or replace them with eco-friendly materials.

Environmentalists also have hopes that the United Nations treaty on plastic waste, when negotiations resume, will increase pressure on companies to do more.

However, getting Caribbean trash under control will be an uphill battle, as events in the Dominican Republic illustrate. In 2020, the countrys parliament passed a law on the handling of solid waste and the government started charging a tax on businesses to help pay for a transition to a circular economy.

But the conversion was slow to materialize, especially because with a dozen plastic-manufacturing facilities in the country, there are large-scale interests at stake. The Dominican Republics ban on single-use plastic should have come into force in 2022, and at least 20 landfill sites should have been cleaned up by this year, according to the law. Neither happened.

In 2021, the lobby for single-use plastics achieved, first a postponement, and then the cancellation of the prohibition date, explains Nelson Bautista, from Accion Verde, an NGO. He expresses disappointment over the lack of political will and doesnt expect enforcement of the circular economy law any time soon.

Waldys Taveras agrees, and he stands ankle-deep in plastic waste to make his point: Not one single landfill in the country disposes of waste properly, and recycling facilities only exist where private companies have invested, he says. Taveras is the former commissioner for environment for Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republics capital, and for the surrounding counties.

He surveys the catastrophic situation at the Azua landfill, about 100 km (62 mi) from Santo Domingo. The unsightly open-air dump sits next to a protected area and overlooks a beautiful bay bordered by white sand. While Taveras talks, some people rummage through the garbage, most of them Haitian migrants separating PET bottles for a businessman who twice a week charters a truck and takes the load to a factory near the capital where its turned into plastic pellets for export.

There is a plan by the European Union and Japan, together with a Spanish company, to reconvert the dump into a sanitary landfill with a recycling plant where these people could work with dignity, says Taveras, but the Ministry of Environment just doesnt move forward.

The official currently in charge of that project is Indhira de Jess, the vice minister for environmental management, who tells Mongabay shes confident the impasse will soon be resolved. But as the landfill will be next to a protected area, the process is complicated, she adds.

Questioned about the slow implementation of the countrys circular economy law, she admits the original timeline was overly optimistic. Trash management does not only involve the government, but also companies and municipalities and implies a change of culture in the citizenry. It is complex.

Industry isnt unaware of the trash problem. The influential Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) is now acting to stem the waste problem, in coordination with the initiative by Caribe Circular.

Twenty plastic bottle producers and bottling companies have come together in a project called Nuvi to organize the collection and recycling of PET bottles.

It was complex first to design the system and then to implement and socialize it, says Mario Pujols, AIRDs vice president. The association has set up 100 recycling bins in the capital, and while these have collected some 82 million bottles since 2020, thats still less than 1% of total sales volume. There is still a lack of awareness among the population. Much more needs to happen in terms of education, says Pujols.

The need for education is apparent throughout the Caribbean, where its a widespread custom to simply throw garbage over a road embankment or into the nearest river.

Thats why people living beside the Motagua River in Guatemala, a Caribe Circular participant, launched their circular solutions campaign with environmental education. The Ecoaprendiendo program is giving lectures at 200 schools in the river basin. They show kids how to sort garbage for recycling, train teachers, and work with the Ministry of Education to put environmental education in the curriculum.

The 500-km (300-mi) Motagua River crosses Guatemala, passes near the capital, and flows into the Caribbean and its emblematic of the regions trash crisis. None of the 96 municipalities through which it flows has a garbage collection system. Thats why more than 60 metric tons of trash per day end up in the Caribbean Sea just from the Motagua. Currents carry the waste to the beaches of neighboring Honduras and threaten its tourism and fishing industries.

The problem was so big that in 2022 it provoked a diplomatic spat, with the Honduran government threatening Guatemala with an international lawsuit. Guatemala responded by placing fences at the mouth of the Motagua River to collect the garbage. But there are frequent breakages and spills. And, of course, microplastics slip through the fence and contaminate the nearby Mesoamerican coral reef, the second largest in the world.

In the past, Guatemalan officials, business leaders and environmentalists blamed each other for the ongoing disaster. Alianza Motagua, an NGO founded in October 2023, wanted to end the blame game and get the bickering parties to cooperate.

So far, it has brought together 56 environmental organizations, business associations, charities, international entities, and public officials from Guatemala and Honduras to take on the Herculean task of reducing and properly disposing of all that trash.

Our goal is to clean the Motagua River within 10 years. Nobody can do that on their own. We all have to work together, says spokesperson Suceli Girn.

Banner image: Green Phenix artist Erwin Sprot with one of his creations, a human figure made with beer crown caps. Image by Sandra Weiss.

At its fourth summit, 170 nations strive toward a global plastics treaty by 2025

Citation:

Gilbert, L. L. (2016). Waste to energy islands: Is converting waste to energy more feasible then traditional landfills for small islands, like Curaao? (Masters thesis, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands). Retrieved from https://edepot.wur.nl/530602

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