Project Summary: Reducing and Recycling Waste The Sustainable Pathway to Adapting ot Climate Change in Dominica
Problem:
With an increase in the use of plastic bottles, tires and wood, we have seen an increase of garbage for collection from the communities resulting in the overcrowding of the landfill and causing increased land water and air pollution. Some of these wastes that are disposed of on the roadsides, playgrounds, parks, sea and even health facilities, also cause blockages of ravines, drains and rivers, triggering floods with heavy rainfall and other severe weather events. It also affects marine life including the sea-turtles which many community organisations in Dominica are working towards their protection and conservation. People's health are affected and deteriorating, thus imposing cost on the future generation's living standard .
Pollution has been considered a big contributor to Climate Change. ?After the passage of Tropical Storm Erika we witnessed a large number of plastic bottles especially water bottles, being disposed in the landfill and sometimes into our rivers. Although recycling is promoted by the Solid Waste Management, there is need for more sustained education and sensitization in that area including promoting alternative ways to reuse some of these waste material.
This project. concentrates on reusing plastic bottles, tires, cloth and wood. The SDHC will work in collaboration with the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation, which will assist in educating and raising awareness to enable the residents to practice recycling the items to be used in the project.
At the end of this project there should be a reduction in the disposal of plastic bottles, tires and wood at the landfills and ravines and establishment of small business enterprises that produce items made from the recycled waste materials highlighted in this project..
Objectives: To increase public awareness and best practices on waste management amongst at least 30 percent of households by 2019
To reduce the amount of plastic and other waste being from the South East Zone to be deposited at the landfill by 2019

Activities include: education and awareness sessions; training sessions- making planting pots from tires landscaping , furniture making utlising palettes , craft, composting, seedling preparation; Establishing Demo Sites organised for tree planting and other community based activities linked to project objectives; Small parks/green spaces within community and school compounds with seating, plants etc. ; Setting up garbage e collection points
Some expected outcomes: Increased knowledge of community members on waste management
Resulting in improved and proper garbage disposal practices (sorting at sauce). Households and individuals engage in less littering. With new skills gained from project community members will be enabled to reuse waste materials. For home/community use and for livelihoods and eventually, Business enterprise established

Knowledge Management
Social media, video production and press release will be used to capture, share and disseminate the knowledge, lessons learned and good practices gained through the implementation of the project. The goals. activities and results of the project will be communicated with community members, other community based organizations and other key stake holders through Community Education Sessions, Public Meetings, Focus Group Meetings, Consultations, Community and School Visits.
Gender Mainstreaming
Both men and women will be encouraged to participate in the project activities including training in skills. Research Indicates that there is a very high unemployment rate among Single Parents especially women within the Southern District. For this project women will be targeted in order to reduce poverty and increase opportunities for generating income. Also considering that women will have a kev role in the success of the separation at sauce/household
1.9 Communication and Replication of Project Results
Project indicators
It is expected that there will be a reduction in the level of garbage disposed and an increase .in recyclables collected. Some of the participants in this project will be engaged through the education approach and contribute towards the changes in their attitudes, skills, knowledge and behaviors that will be exhibited.
Over a twelve (12) month period, the rate of waste will be reduced by 5%. More residents will participate in the program to help in its sustainability. The Committee will be provided with regular reports on the success of the project. Recycling and reusing is capitalized on and not sent to the landfill
Sustainability of Results Achieved
To address the sustainability of the program, awareness activities will be conducted regularly in order to promote public participation as well as provide transparency. This will foster a greater social responsibility to residents and the district at large creating the potential for a sense of ownership of the environment and the project.
Participants will be given the opportunity to work with the Cooperative Officer who will assist and guide them to form a cooperative. Through this initiative they would expand/incorporate other activities that would help generate income. The primary schools will incorporate it as an arts and craft program.
Establishing of business enterprises will be encouraged ? Sale of compost, seedlings, potted plants, agriculture crops plants, cut designed tires for planting. -Landscaping
Building fences, furniture, etc. using palettes and other waste Tradesmen in stone work - walls