Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ) officially opened a new, larger depot in Naggo Head, St Catherine on December 14, 2023. The new location enables an increase in collection and recycling of plastics by nearly 50 per cent above the current figure of 12 million pounds per annum.

Wisynco Group is a founding partner of RPJ and provides governance, technical and financial contributions. Two of Wisynco’s senior executives, Sean Scott, deputy CEO and Francois Chalifour, director of marketing and business development, sit on the board.

RPJ collects an average of 30 per cent of all plastic bottles sold into the market by the beverage industry, up from 16 per cent during the previous year. During its last financial year ended March 2023, the organisation collected 6.6 million pounds of plastic bottles and exported 5.4 million pounds. In its current fiscal year, RPJ is expected to make payments of more than $600 million to its more than 1,300 independent plastic collectors, 26 third party truckers and 155 employees.

Several years ago, Wisynco changed the packaging for its popular beverages to bottles comprising 50 per cent less plastic. The company’s multipronged approach includes founding and promoting ECO Clubs in schools; requiring a recycling plan be in place at sponsored events; conducting a sustained public awareness progr amme ; and, training its employees to be advocates for the environment.