Waste Management teams with HM Prison on sustainability

The Department of Waste Management and His Majesty’s Prison have launched a joint initiative to boost environmental sustainability and improve waste disposal at the correctional facility.

The project emerged from a recent senior management team meeting chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Tasha Bertie. It combined department heads from both agencies to tackle shared challenges and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.

A key outcome of the meeting was the reinstatement of a dedicated garbage bin at the prison. This change has already helped improve safety, cleanliness and the overall efficiency of daily operations within the compound. Officials also announced that the teams are now focused on reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill by promoting recycling.

As part of that push, prison staff and inmates recently visited the Eco Park, which is managed by Green VI. The trip sparked ideas on how to incorporate recycling into the prison’s daily routines and link environmental responsibility to rehabilitation and skill-building for inmates.

“This is a great example of departments coming together to create real change. I am grateful to the Director of Waste Management and the team at Green VI for their support. Together we are making our prison system cleaner, safer and more sustainable,” Superintendent Jay Kendall stated.

The ministry, which oversees both departments, praised the collaboration and urged other public agencies to adopt similar partnerships. Officials believe such joint efforts can lead to better public services and a more sustainable Virgin Islands. The initiative adds to growing efforts across the territory to encourage recycling and green practices.

Green VI, a local non-profit, has worked closely with government departments on several projects aimed at reducing landfill waste and increasing community awareness of environmental issues.

The ministry said it hoped the partnership between the prison and waste management units will serve as a model for future cross-agency cooperation.