In a significant environmental milestone, Newfield Primary School in Antigua and Barbuda has received its second bench constructed entirely from recycled plastic bottle caps. This donation forms part of the West Indies Sail Heritage Foundation’s expanding Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste School Program, launched in February 2026.
The initiative represents a dual-purpose mission: combating plastic pollution across the Caribbean nation while simultaneously engaging young students through practical environmental education. The program transforms discarded plastic materials into functional school furniture, creating tangible symbols of sustainability for participating institutions.
International collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. Financial backing from the SGP GEF Small Grants Programme established the necessary workshop infrastructure, while the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados, and the OECS, based in Saint Lucia, provided crucial support for the program’s 2026 season launch.
The Antigua and Barbuda Waste Recycling Corporation (ABWREC) plays a vital role as the supplier of recycled plastic materials used in crafting these innovative benches and related products.
Currently offered at no cost to chosen public schools throughout Antigua and Barbuda, the program incorporates a comprehensive environmental curriculum. Each participating institution completes an educational journey that culminates in the donation of a recycled bench, serving as a permanent reminder of their waste-reduction commitment.
This latest donation follows the Foundation’s inaugural bench presentation to Sea View Farm Primary School on February 9th, marking continued expansion of their ecological efforts within the educational sector.