DREFF Shows Trashed at Dominican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Attempt to Elevate Waste Management Awareness

Santo Domingo, October 17, 2013

As part of GFDD’s Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings program, the DR Environmental Film Festival in collaboration with the Dominican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources held back-to-back screenings of the documentary film Trashed. The program, October 16-18 at Ministry Headquarters in Santo Domingo, included opening remarks by Ginny Heinsen, Director of the 3Rs Program for the Agricultural and Forestry Development Center (CEDAF).

The objective of the program was to encourage dialogue and inform Ministry officials on sustainable waste management options and to raise awareness on the negative environmental, social and health consequences of using incinerators to burn trash.

As solid waste is arguably the most pressing environmental issue facing the Dominican Republic, officials have recently contemplated the use of incinerators to reduce the volume of waste in landfills that have reached capacity. Screenings of Trashed therefore, come at an opportune moment as the documentary exposes the extreme health risks associated with toxic chemical emissions (dioxin, furans, and PCBs), which are released into the air during waste incineration. As Jeremy Iron points out in Trashed, the way forward is not to bury or burn our trash but rather encourage reduction and recycling, particularly of non biodegradable solid waste such as plastic and Styrofoam.

About Trashed
Trashed is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America: the garbage business. The film examines a fundamental element of modern American culture - the disposal of what our society defines as “waste.” This is an issue influenced by every American, most of whom never consider the consequences, nor, it seems, the implications to our biosphere.

At times humorous, but deeply poignant, Trashed examines the American waste stream fast approaching a half billion tons annually. The film analyzes the causes and effects of the seemingly innocuous act of “taking out the garbage” while showcasing individuals, activists, corporate and advocacy groups working to affect change and reform the current model. Trashed is an informative and thought-provoking film everyone interested in the future of sustainability should see.

Become An Agent of Change!
Every single person on the planet can contribute to the safekeeping of our environment by following these suggestions:

• Reflect upon your daily choices in food, clothing and transportation. Learn about how you can reduce waste in your home by following the 3R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle;
• Stop using disposable plastic bottles;
• Take your own re-usable bags when you go shopping;
• Switch from disposable to cloth diapers;
• Reuse paper and get creative with wrapping paper;
• Join Coastal Cleanup Day and help keep beaches and coastlines clean!

About GFDD Year-Round Environmental Screenings
As part of its mission to reach more communities, institutions and individuals around the country, the DR Environmental Film Festival organizes year-round film screenings that bring interesting and important films to new and remote communities. By showing a diverse selection of quality movies on critical environmental issues and organizing discussions and workshops, the year-round film screenings program seeks to foster and inspire dialogue, raise awareness and promote sustainable practices.

Join us and take part in our commitment to protect the environment!

For more information on how to organize a screening, please visit us at: www.dominicanscreenings.org

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