The problems of Puerto Rico in waste management were not recent. Recently, it received headlines on the account of some flouting comments by an electoral campaigner. Standup comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, performing for Donald Trump, who was campaigning in New York: referred to Puerto Rico, in a tasteless joke, calling it “this floating island of garbage”.
Most people who call Puerto Rico home aren’t laughing.
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.
