Haiti - Environment : A sustainable and profitable recycling initiative
Wednesday, at the 2016 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, the multinational company Hewlett-Packard (HP), announced it has joined a CGI Commitment to Action with Thread, Timberland, Team Tassy, and ACOP (Association des Collecteurs des Objets en Plastique) to improve conditions at the Truitier (Cité Soleil) landfill in Haiti over a three-year period.
One estimates that 200 children between the ages of 8 and 12 currently collect recyclable materials from the Truitier landfill. These children and their families are exposed daily to unsafe and hazardous working conditions. This joint initiative aims to improve the lives of the children by providing them with educational opportunities, including more than 200 scholarships, as well as full physical exams and health and safety trainings. Additionally, commitment partners will provide job training for the adults, and invest over $300,000 in entrepreneurs, microenterprises, and/or small-to-medium enterprises in targeted neighborhoods.
As part of this commitment, HP will purchase recycled plastic made with raw materials collected at the Truitier landfill. By opening a new market opportunity, generating a steady revenue stream and partnering to improve conditions for the workers, HP is helping to create sustainable jobs and bring opportunity and dignity to the Truitier community.
