Antigua and Barbuda Hosts Powerful Plastics Awareness Expo

The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics campaign made waves in Antigua and Barbuda last month through a recycling expo that drew community leaders, conservationists, and members of the public together in a call to action. From April 23 to April 28, the local partner of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Good Humans 268, hosted a week-long recycling expo at their site in John Hughes, Antigua.

The event aimed to challenge public attitudes and behaviours around plastic use and waste management, offering an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. The site was transformed into a hub of environmental learning, featuring eight interactive stations designed to demystify the recycling process. Attendees explored activities such as a mock plastic sorting centre, learned through plastic-themed games like tic-tac-toe, and got creative with arts and crafts at a sculpture-making area using repurposed materials.

At the heart of the expo was a striking display of one million plastic items, collected to represent the volume of waste that could otherwise have entered the sea. The visual impact of this installation served as a powerful reminder of the growing challenge posed by single-use plastics and the need for urgent action.

The event was well attended by notable figures in environmental policy and government. Jasiel Murphy, Head of the Environmental Management System and Pollution Unit, praised the team at Good Humans 268 for their leadership and encouraged the wider community to adopt more sustainable practices. Natalya Lawrence, Country Director for the Global Environment Facility, which supports Good Humans 268, spoke of the critical need to reduce dependence on single-use plastics, especially in light of emerging research on the harmful effects of microplastics.

Joshuanette Francis, Founding President of the Good Humans Foundation, expressed pride in the impact of the event and used the opportunity to call for improved recycling infrastructure in Antigua and Barbuda. She emphasised that while community engagement is essential, systemic support is also necessary to create lasting change.

The recycling expo was part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics campaign, which is visiting every Commonwealth country and overseas territory in conjunction with the King’s Baton Relay. The event in Antigua and Barbuda benefited from strong support from Commonwealth Sport and the Commonwealth Games Association of Antigua and Barbuda, whose president, Neil Cochrane, addressed attendees and commended the campaign’s focus on environmental issues.

With plastic pollution remaining one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, initiatives like this play a vital role in raising awareness and inspiring action. The expo not only educated but also empowered local residents to think critically about their own habits and the role they can play in protecting the oceans.

For those interested in getting involved with the campaign or learning more about sustainable practices, further information is available via the Royal Commonwealth Society website.

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ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN.

The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.

The campaign will combine education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce pollution across the Commonwealth.

For the action component of the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society has partnered with Commonwealth Sport to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign as a core component of The King’s Baton Relay. This newly envisioned King’s Baton Relay will focus on sustainability and environmentalism and was launched by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025, beginning a 500-day journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.

Journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory, this partnership will bring together young people, athletes, conservation groups, and the local community for a week of activities, including a plastic clean-up.

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Find out how to support the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign!