In an effort to strengthen movement building in the area of proper waste management and recycling, Pacific Recycling Foundation has announced an annual ‘Advocates Influencing Mindsets & Mentoring Agents Award, which will be given to individuals who have gone above and beyond in their work as recycling advocates.

PRF’s Founder, Mr. Amitesh Deo said ‘A.M.M.A Award’ will give recognition to those individuals who are passionately carrying out advocacy work in the recycling space by creating awareness on recycling and proper waste management.

Mr. Deo said the award has also been developed to highlight and honour the central contribution of women and members of the vulnerable community who at times have been neglected by the society, suffered abuse and have gone through extremes to provide for their families.

He said the Collection Pillars of Recycling who are mostly women are classic examples who face a great deal of stigma from society.

“We want to honour and recognise those individuals who are working with us to build a movement and are part of PRF’s initiatives to bring about a change in the recycling space.”

These individuals are from our communities who see proper waste management and recycling as a major issue and do not shy away from creating awareness on a topic that is generally seen as not sexy or important,” said Mr. Deo.

He said PRF and its partners took some bold steps this year to change mindsets and behaviour with the implementation of the Recycling on the Go Ambassadors Project at Jai Narayan College and the Pilot Recycling Project at Kabutri Drive.

According to Mr. Deo, these two projects are tailor made to empower their advocates to instill proper waste management practices in homes, schools, communities and work places.

He said they are quite happy with the commitment shown by the ROG Ambassadors and Recycling Advocates in the first year of operations.

“Everything is not hunky-dory in the recycling space as our ROG Ambassadors had to go through name calling during the beginning of the project, and this really demoralised the students initially. Terms like ‘mother of rubbish pickers’ were used to describe one ROG Ambassador,” said Mr. Deo.

Recycling on the Go Head Ambassador and student of Jai Narayan College, Ms. Hefuhelava Kamaile will be the recipient of PRF’s inaugural A.M.M.A Award this year.

PRF will provide specific details of a selection criteria for the A.M.M.A award during the Global Recycling Day celebrations in March next year.

Source: Pacific Recycling Foundation

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