Greenrock Press Release, 15 Nov 2013

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world and is operated by the United Nations approved Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE has one member organisation per country running Eco-Schools on the national level. We're proud to announce that FEE recently appointed Greenrock as their associate member for Bermuda.

The 2013 Throne Speech strongly suggests that this Government perceives the environment and sustainability as something 'nice to have' after the economy and employment prospects improve. We need to change our (and their) mindset - using fewer resources and protecting our island for the future has both an immediate and a long-term positive impact on the economy, many studies have shown that it also increases job opportunities, and most importantly it connects people to their environment, strengthening the bonds of community.

Here in Bermuda the vast majority of the waste we produce is destined to be burnt at the Tynes Bay Incinerator, which at last count burns over 60,000 tons of trash a year. Most of the trash we produce is a by-product of our consumption, the packaging for consumable goods.

The chilling truth is that as much as one-tenth of the electricity devoured in our homes vanishes as “standby power” – electricity feeding our perpetually plugged-in electronics and appliances even when they’re idle for long periods of time, like in the dead of night.

Residents could wind up being charged 25 cents for every plastic bag they use, if the environmental group Greenrock has its way.

Similar initiatives have proven successful around the world at reducing plastic litter, Greenrock president Judith Landsberg said.