NewsNetworkToday: HAITI: RECYCLED PAPER INTO CHARCOAL FOR COOKING FUEL (UN MINUSTAH)

NewsNetworkToday: 15 December 2009 - UN MINUSTAH: A new product is hitting the streets of Haiti's capital that could help wean the population off charcoal fuel. Burnable briquettes made out of recycled paper and one of the biggest draws is their low price. By offering renewable fuel that is cheaper and better than charcoal, Haiti may have a chance to save its forests, and its people from future floods.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Edner Andre, Paper Charcoal Buyer:
I have to pay twice as much for wood charcoal than this paper stuff. I just spent only 25 cents (US$0.25) and now I can cook a lot of food. This paper charcoal is much better.

Whats more the briquettes are made out of the citys garbage. Tons of it are collected every day and brought to this trash treatment facility. Workers sift through the garbage, separating out the glass, metals, and plastics which they sell for recycling. The paper is saved for the briquettes.

Besides being cheap, the briquettes burn much more efficiently than wood-based charcoal.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Ginette Sejour, Factory Worker:
We did some tests where we boiled 2 liters of water with both types of fuel. The paper briquettes took only 11 minutes. The charcoal took 17 minutes. It was clear, the briquettes work better than charcoal.

Besides cleaning up garbage, briquettes offer a cheap, renewable alternative to Haitis millions, who depend on charcoal fuel for their basic needs.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Samuel Toussaint, Factory Manager:
We are seeing demand rise, so we have to be careful to manage our stocks. We have a capacity to make only 2000 briquettes per day. In the near future, we are going to get 5 more machines, which will greatly increase our production capacity. The product is in high demand.

The factory hopes to increase its output by ten fold in early 2010, putting 300,000 briquettes per month on the market.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Carline Toussaint, Briquette seller:
Because when the hurricanes hit, we have alot of problems around here. Its because the people are cutting down too many trees. If everyone would use these briquettes, they wouldnt cut the trees anymore. And wed be protected from hurricanes. ............ ......... ..............NewsNetworkToday:
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• Haiti
• recycled paper
• cooking fuel
• charcoal
• deforestation
• energy
• heat
• MINUSTAH
• UN
• United Nations
• NewsNetworkToday
• News Network Today
• Briquettes
• factory
• trees
• hurricanes
• garbage recycle
• floods
• low-price