KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller Wednesday officially opened a recycling plant on Spanish Town Road in Kingston.

Jamaica Recycles is a start-up company backed by American investors International Recycling and Reclamation Ltd and will undertake the recycling of waste paper and plastics.

The new company also revealed plans to expand the scope of services to include other recyclable material such as electronic scrap, industrial plastic, glass and metals. 

“The new initiative brings investment, additional productive activity, and gainful employment, in addition to assisting to keep our environment clean,” Simpson Miller said at the launch. 

According to Simpson Miller the plant has the potential to create about 100 jobs.  

“The owners and managers will be employing people from surrounding communities to collect waste bottles to sell these to the plant,” she said.

Simpson Miller added that company would “provide the facilities to help Jamaica tackle a serious environmental problem of getting rid of the large volumes of solid waste products that homes, institutions and businesses generate every day.”

“I note with special interest the company’s projection of diverting 20,000 metric tons of recyclable material from the Riverton Landfill and the reclaiming of 100,000 metric tons of recyclables annually.  This would definitely be a significant contribution to the care and protection of the environment,” the Prime Minister said.

 At the same time, Local Government and Community Development Minister Noel Arscott called the initiative a “welcome and timely response” to the nation’s need to expand its recycling efforts.

He commended Jamaica Recycles for its commitment and investment in Jamaica at this time and urged the company to work closely with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

 “I am also calling on all Jamaicans to do their part to promote environmental stewardship and responsibility, respect for our eco-system, corporate responsibility and pride in our communities,” said Arscott.

Jamaica Recycles will pay for recyclable material, either delivered to their Spanish Town Road facility, or collected from the customer. 

Purchase price will be set based on the value of the individual recyclable commodity.