The Ministry of Works and Engineering has appointed a Waste Education and Enforcement Officer for the Waste Management Section.

Amy Harvey?s main role will be to encourage both commercial and residential sectors to be more vigilant with their recycling and waste habits through a series of public awareness campaigns.

Ms Harvey ? who joined the department in November ? will also play a significant role in educating school aged children about the importance of recycling, practising good waste disposal habits and litter awareness by visiting the Island?s middle and senior schools.

One such initiative is to inform the public about the benefits of backyard composting ? in line with the Waste Management Sections? reviving of its backyard composting programme.

As such they have several compost or Earth Machines available for sale to the public.

In her first public interview, Ms Harvey said by raising compost awareness, she hopes to educate residents about the different methods of waste reduction and disposal that are beneficial to the environment.

She said composting serves as nature?s way of recycling.

?It is the natural process of decomposition and recycling of organic material into a humus-rich soil amendment known as compost. Using compost increases plant growth, replaces the need for harsh chemical fertilisers and pesticides and reduces water demands of plants and trees,? she said, adding that composting is also an excellent way of reducing the volume of household waste.

Ms Harvey studied Biology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and focused on subjects such as ecology, marine biology, conservation and environmental ethics.

She obtained her Masters degree in Environmental Science at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

The public are encouraged to contact Ms Harvey?s department with any queries relating to waste and refuse disposal, or information about compost machines at 297-7953.