Reporter, Port of Spain
Anselm GibbsFrom dazzling costumes to heavy parties, the Trinidad carnival is often called “the greatest show on the ground”.
But some of its elements are not fully friendly, and it is estimated that the celebrations produce 3.4 tons of waste each year, according to CarnICle, a local initiative aimed at making the celebrations more sustainable.
Although the carnival is “a large part of our culture”, it also has a very negative ecosystem “from events, to textiles, to fashion” used by hikers, viewers and sellers participating in the annual show in the two days before Wednesday.
The production and continuation of a single carnival fashion chest can generate approximately 37.68 kg (83 pounds) of carbon dioxide emissions, and motorcycle estimates based on accounts that were made using an online tool provided by Doconomy Swedish Tech Company.
With the permission of Lizbliz EntertainmentDanny and her team are working to verify this estimate by a third party, but with tens of thousands of hikers every year, she says that the amount of emissions is a cause of concern.
To reduce these emissions, CarnICle started the recycling program, as it collected unused costumes that could have been thrown or burned by disguise teams, which use new fashion designs every year.
CarnICle also puts assembly boxes in hotels and other places so that neglected costumes can be reused.
“Until last year, we collected about 10,000 pieces of fashion materials,” Danny told BBC.
As a matter of courtesy Danny McletchieThe rescue materials are sold to fashion designers, leverages, and people in the abandoned industry, who provide by purchase used.
CarnICle also rented large back pieces, which are a common part of the fashion that is worn in the Trinidad carnival. Its price can reach $ 700 (550 pounds), depending on the size.
Danny explains that they reached the idea after hearing the celebrities not only of expenses but also about the weight of the back. “I pay this a lot of money, but it is heavy, and by the time when a lunch I just want to throw it,” Danny recalls.
The motorcycle is rented on the back on the back to deny the applicants for a long time so that they can take pictures, but it is released from carrying it during the display.
Participant founder of Danyi and Carlictycle Luke Harris-who hold full-time jobs in addition to their environmental initiative They are not the only ones to devote their free time to make the Trinidad Carnival fun and a friend of the environment
Lawyer Alia Clark and fashion designer Kaleen Sanois began a side company called 2nd Closet-the emerging savings store where people can buy and sell pre-owned clothes.
The two also made video lessons with tips on how to convert fashion to beach clothes and clothes for other occasions.
Alia BBC told something that she first did for herself: “After I finished my costume, I was flipping, literally to the wire, and knowing how to make this something else to wear outside the carnival.”
She is now sharing her ideas in a video clip called by the Millennium “Tipsy Tuesday”.
It also provides the Torze Treasure service, which includes coming to the person’s home and sorting through unwanted clothes, to save the appropriate items for sale in the emerging savings store.
From the highest courtesy of ClarkIn what Kaleen believes it is evidence of the work they did, they were asked to sort the sprawling treasury of Machel Montano, a musician known as “Kinga King” and a star in the world of carnival.
Calin explains: “The clothes are personal things, especially for a person like Machil, who has a lot of big moments associated with his pieces.”
After sorting through MACHEL shoes and clothes, the second cabinet organized a two -day emerging store, giving people an opportunity to buy the elements that Machel worn on the stage and in music videos.
Al -Olaya recalls the enthusiasm of the fans of the used elements: “People came with pictures, and they were like” I am looking for this piece. “
But fashion and clothes are not the only recycled elements to make Trinidad celebrations more environmentally.
In FETE With The Saints, a party that he considers many of the best Trinidad carnival, the food is eaten using a decomposing wooden table and drinks are poured into reusable cups.
FETE organizers – collecting donations for a high school in Trinidad and Tobago – rent “investigators” to ensure the beneficiaries are properly sorting and disposal of garbage for recycling.
It is estimated that this year’s Bin investigators helped double the amount of recyclable materials captured, compared to the previous two years.
By closing the Caribbean sea ring“Over the past three years, we have already prevented more than a million citizens for one use from entering the landfill, and I think it may be more than five tons of glass,” says Vandana Mangero, co -founder of Close The Loop Caribbean, a company that started working with FETE With The Saints in 2023 to make the event more sustainable.
Joseph Hadd, the co -chair of the party’s organizational committee, says that those behind this event knew that their efforts to make it more green “add a layer of costs and more employment.” But he insists on “I have succeeded” and insists that the party’s spirit has not been mitigated.
These green efforts are welcomed by pastors like Roland Riley, who praised her as “a good initiative by saints to go to this way.”
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