In a significant demonstration of international environmental cooperation, the Taiwan Technical Mission to St. Kitts and Nevis celebrated exceptional achievements in sustainability through its 2025 National Recycling Competition. The award ceremony, convened on November 24th at the Marriott Beach Resort, highlighted a remarkable tripling of recycling efforts compared to previous years.
Organized under the leadership of Ms. Joyce Chang, Manager of the Solid Waste Management and Recycling Project, the initiative saw unprecedented participation from 55 educational institutions across the nation. These collective efforts resulted in the recovery of 19,000 pounds of plastic waste, representing a two to threefold increase over last year’s totals. This substantial growth indicates rapidly expanding environmental consciousness among younger generations and school communities.
The diplomatic dimension of the event featured Second Secretary Hsien-Yu (Billy) Chung representing Ambassador Edward Tao. Secretary Chung personally commended participating schools for their dedication to building a sustainable future. In a symbolic gesture underscoring the circular economy principles being promoted, the Embassy presented 1,600 eco-friendly T-shirts manufactured from recycled plastics to Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action, and Ms. Jahnel Nisbett, Minister of Health, Gender Affairs, and Social Empowerment.
The collaboration extended beyond bilateral cooperation, involving St. Kitts and Nevis’ environmental and education authorities alongside international environmental organization PROMAR. This multi-stakeholder approach has proven effective in advancing waste management infrastructure and environmental education.
Looking forward, Taiwan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting St. Kitts and Nevis in developing comprehensive waste separation systems, enhancing recycling capabilities, and implementing circular economy models. This ongoing partnership continues to align with broader sustainable development goals for creating cleaner, greener, and more resilient island communities.