For AVP Parliamentarian Otami Thomasia, the future of recycling in Aruba does not depend solely on infrastructure or laws, but primarily on education and a shift in mindset. She is convinced that if Aruba wants to achieve a truly sustainable recycling system, the foundation must be laid in schools and in the development of our youth.
Thomasia shared that this conviction stems from her own experience as a future teacher at the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA), where, over a decade ago, many of her study projects focused on recycling, sustainability, and environmental protection.
“More than a decade ago, we were already talking about recycling and sustainability in education. Unfortunately, during my ten years as a teacher, I did not see that vision converted into a permanent national plan. Now is the time to change that,” Thomasia expressed.
According to the parliamentarian, Aruba must develop a National Environmental Education and Recycling Plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Department of Education (Directie Onderwijs), IPA, schools, and other educational institutions. This plan, Thomasia suggests, should integrate sustainability into the school curriculum, implement recycling programs in schools, and offer opportunities for children to learn through practical experience.
“Recycling should not just remain a lesson in class. It must become a way of thinking, acting, and living. When a child learns from a young age how to reduce waste, reuse materials, and recycle, that knowledge will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” she indicated.
Thomasia also proposes the installation of recycling stations in schools, parks, sports centers, public buildings, and communities to make recycling a natural part of daily life. Furthermore, she emphasized that sustainability goes beyond waste; Aruba must continue to invest in the reuse of treated water for watering parks and sports fields, using resources more intelligently.
Thomasia noted that this vision aligns with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “These are not just international goals. They are investments in a stronger, cleaner, and more resilient Aruba,” she declared. In conclusion, she called for the government, the educational sector, the community, and the private sector to work together to create an environmental culture that will endure for future generations. “True change does not begin at the landfill. It begins in the classroom, at home, and in the community.”