The Puerto Rico Trash Problem: A Call for Change in Waste Management – Black Star News

The Increasing Problem of Waste

Puerto Rico is not a country to take any joke regarding waste management. The island generates around 1.3 billion pounds of trash each year. Sadly, nearly 85% of its landfills are at saturation levels. This creates a terrible state of affairs. A situation where no proper means for waste disposal and recycling facilities has further aggravated the crisis. Much of the wastes are disposed of through littering, causing harm and health problems in the surroundings.

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Economic Issues with Waste

This problem can never be solved completely because of the economic instability of Puerto Rico. It imports most goods, with packaging that has ended up in landfills. Limited recycling programs for Puerto Rico leave it little choice to reduce the quantities of garbage. Natural calamities, such as hurricanes, brought more debris into the overflowing landfills.

This led to a joke by Hinchcliffe that pointed out the reality of how people look at Puerto Rico, especially considering that it ignores all real issues. Puerto Ricans and celebrities such as Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin express their anger. Through social media, they bring into public light the waste problem, as well as ongoing struggles in poverty, infrastructure, and environmental destruction.

Attempts for Change

There are currently some initiatives at work to ameliorate the situation in Puerto Rico when it comes to waste. Local municipalities and private entities are advertising recycling programs and investments in renewable energy. But these answers have been glacially slow in coming because of the lack of investment and the political instability surrounding the whole situation. Complicating matters is the colonial status of Puerto Rico, many environmental policies have to be implemented through federal aid coming from the U.S.

A Call to Action

Though the offense the comment had caused to some, Hinchcliffe does bring a much-needed reality check regarding Puerto Rico’s serious problem with trash. Though a joke can sometimes be an offense to certain people, it still generated a more comprehensive argument concerning how the island was dealt with and how this outsider’s views impact actual change in terms of action. Puerto Ricans continue their advocacy efforts with better resources and better ways to counter the emerging crises of garbage in their areas. Hopefully, attention at this time will soon contribute to a more effective policy, which could bring an even better future for their place.

Waste in the Tourism Sector

Apart from these factors, there are more crucial factors involved. Tourism is one of the prime sectors in Puerto Rico. The island hosts millions of tourists each year; they generate an enormous amount of waste, mainly plastics and packaging materials. Tourism further burdens the already frail system of waste management on the island. Tourism brings income to the economy of a place, but it only increases the environmental crises of that place.

In Future

The state of Puerto Rico is very much in need of swift and sustainable solutions for this waste management crisis. Its island requires stronger recycling efforts, waste reduction programs, and new investments in modern waste facilities. The involvement of the local government, international organizations, and the citizens is called for in solving this pressing issue. Without this intervention, the environmental future of the island remains in question.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • SDG 15: Life on Land

   The article discusses the increasing problem of waste in Puerto Rico, which is connected to SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities. It also mentions the economic issues with waste, which is related to SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production. The waste problem in Puerto Rico has implications for marine and terrestrial ecosystems, aligning with SDG 14 on life below water and SDG 15 on life on land.

2. Specific Targets

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse
   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

   The article highlights the need to address waste management issues in Puerto Rico, which aligns with Target 11.6 of SDG 11. It also emphasizes the importance of waste reduction and recycling, corresponding to Target 12.5 of SDG 12. The mention of marine pollution and the impact on ecosystems relates to Target 14.1 of SDG 14. Additionally, the article calls for the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, which is in line with Target 15.1 of SDG 15.

3. Indicators

   • Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities
   • Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
   • Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density
   • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area

   The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but they can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. Indicator 11.6.1 can assess the proportion of urban solid waste properly managed in Puerto Rico. Indicator 12.5.1 can measure the recycling rate and the amount of waste material recycled. Indicator 14.1.1 can evaluate the presence of marine debris and pollution in coastal areas. Indicator 15.1.1 can track the forest area as a proportion of the total land area in Puerto Rico.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: blackstarnews.com