AS Guyana joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Environment Day (WED), 2015 last Friday under the theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care,” the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to work towards the development and implementation of standards for individuals and companies to demonstrate care for the environment. The selection of this theme seems most relevant at this time, given the state of our planet and the need for everyone to take special care of it as we endeavour to achieve our dreams and aspirations while considering the needs of future generations.

Imagine the following scenario: an announcement that there is only a one- year supply of fresh water remaining worldwide!! No doubt, this would send persons into a frenzy, frantically making arrangements to acquire reservoirs to store water for themselves and immediate families.
The reality is that in some countries persons are allowed the equivalent of one bucket of water per day to execute all their chores. In most cases, this water is not clean or potable, but that is all they have. In addition, approximately 700 million people in over 43 countries experience water scarcity. On the other hand, there are persons who are a lot more fortunate to have very good water supply which they use in a manner that can only be considered as wasteful, uncaring and inconsiderate to those who would need this vital resource in the future.
We can also examine how we dispose of our solid waste in Guyana as the onset of technology allows us to use Styrofoam to package our foods. However, over the years the indiscriminate use of this product has become so accepted that many do not think of its effects on the environment and human health. Styrofoam is non-biodegradable, it is light and floats easily (not to mention that one of its ingredients is considered to be carcinogenic or cancerous). This product has become a majority component of what is considered “marine debris,” adversely affecting marine life. We can look inland, on our roadsides, in our drains, canals and rivers in Guyana and see how our efforts to properly dispose our garbage leave much to be desired. Nevertheless, the new drive to clean our environment is surely encouraging and must be maintained.
Businesses that produce huge amounts of waste daily must begin to consider where it all goes. The discharge of waste water, waste oil, gases and other harmful chemical in quantities that can have diverse effects on biological life must be curbed by ensuring systems and standards are in place to reduce further adverse effects on the environment.
We must begin to recycle cardboard boxes and paper at the end of the working day so as to demonstrate how we care for our environment. Thousands of trees have to be cut down to manufacture these products.
It is imperative that we consume with care to achieve a sustainable future. It is time to adopt better lifestyles in order to do more with less by simply turning off taps when not in use, recycling cardboard boxes and utilizing renewable resources. The GNBS will continue to lead companies and businesses in the direction of implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) to formally and consistently demonstrate care for the environment. The Bureau is currently in the process of revising the National Standard “Requirements for Effluent Discharge into the Environment,” which can be implemented by companies to improve and streamline current practices with the aim of preserving the environment for future generations.

LLOYD DAVID
Public Relations Officer
Guyana National Bureau of Standards