An environmental group, the Coalition for the Protection of Environmental Rights (CPER), has called on government to enact legislation to support gains being made establishing good recycling practices in schools and some communities.

In a release, the group said government should implement financial incentives to encourage investments in recycling as well as to include civil society in waste management policy discussions.

The CPER recently submitted a petition containing over 200 signatures to the Minister of Land and Environment, Dean Peart, calling on these actions to be taken.

The CPER is made up of groups from across the island including the Jamaica Environmental Trust, Friends of the Sea, Northern Jamaica Conservation Authority, National Environmental Societies Trust, Gideon Education Centre, International School of, Jamaica, Harbour View Citizens Association and the Oracabessa Fishermen's Association.

The group said it was particularly concerned about the government's failure to implement the environmental levy on packaging material, announced in 2003.

"The announcement of the levy resulted in a reduction of Recycle for Life's activities thereby severely curtailing recycling efforts," commented Wendy Lee, executive director of Northern Jamaica Conservation Association (NJCA).

"Since then, PET plastic bottles have been piling up everywhere and there is no effective programme to deal with them."

The network is concerned that the government's failure to implement the levy is reversing the progress made in establishing good recycling practices in schools and some communities. In this regard, PET plastic bottles were singled out as the single most visible example of poor waste management practices by their accumulation in waste dumps, drains, beaches and gullies where clogging leads to increased flooding.

"An effectively managed recycling programme will definitely reduce the volume of solid waste entering the sea, on which our tourism economy depends. Cleaner beaches, rivers and streams will also reduce water-borne diseases and contribute positively to the nation's health and social well-being," said Chloe Hosang, executive director, Friends of the Sea.