Sian Cuffy Young believes we can transform our country's understanding and use of waste. And she is on a mission to do that through her social enterprise and tireless advocacy across T&T.
"Growing up, my father was (and still is) a Cub Scout leader. He taught me the conservation laws in scouting and always believed in leaving a place better and cleaner than we met it. So, we picked up after ourselves and also after others in camps and hikes. That was my first intro into preservation and conservation."
With her father's involvement in scouting, she also had a unique perspective. She was allowed to join the then male-only Cub Scout movement on their trips and camps, and had to participate in all the same activities that the boys did. In a way, she was one of Trinidad and Tobago’s first (but unofficial) female Cub Scouts. She was also an active Girl Guide but enjoyed the chance to be the only girl among males – something that would prepare her for her career.
As the daughter of a teacher (father) and a social worker (mother), it was also almost assured that she would emerge with a strong love of both teaching and helping people. An avid reader as well, learning was intrinsic to her being. She would often sit and devour the children's encyclopaedias at home before moving on to the larger tomes in her parent's bedroom.
After completing her double major in Physics at UWI St Augustine, she continued at the campus with a master's in Environmental Engineering.
"I always loved sciences – languages too – but I appreciated Physics and the sciences. Environmental Engineering studies allowed me to apply the principles of science to the environment in ways like environmental contouring. So, it paired my loves and offered me a career path I didn’t know existed at the time.”
Sian also excelled at UWI through another of her passions – dance.
"I have been dancing since I was about five years old. I joined UWI Dance Theatre early on as I had danced at the primary and secondary school levels. My father was also a Best Village dancer so I grew up with Caribbean folk dance and African dance around me as a love and passion. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with UWI Dance, including the dance productions we staged. It was my relief and my release during my studies – no matter how tired I was – I found joy through dance."
Sian first explored her love of the environment as a career with The Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL). It wasn't long before her then-boss (and, in her words, office “dad”) noticed her particular skillsets could be better utilised.
"Alban Scott, who was also my mentor, discovered that my strength was in waste education. Whenever there were presentations to be delivered to the public from primary schools to corporate offices, he would send me. I loved seeing people make small changes in their lives that added up over time and across communities."
Her passions for helping and teaching people were emerging.
Founding her own business and social enterprise, Siel Environmental Services, in July 2015 allowed her to become a tour de force in the industry. Her experiences as the lone girl among boys in Cub Scouts allowed her to flourish as one of the few women in the waste management sector in T&T.
The company specialises in three areas – waste education and literacy, online courses and programmes for businesses and individuals in waste reduction, and organic waste eco-system management for businesses.
As part of her waste education programme, Sian authored a children's book titled Ky's Magical Adventures: Where the Garbage Goes, available at local bookstores and on the Amazon Kindle app. She also actively seeks speaking engagements to share her experiences and knowledge, and to showcase the many different aspects of waste.
"We need to transform the way we think and act towards waste here in T&T, and it goes beyond just the basics of littering, but also extends to how we can better make use of waste as a resource. We need to learn to sort the waste in our homes and businesses. That way we can move away from the current policy of simply dumping everything in landfills. This is a major under-utilisation of a resource that happens every day."
Sian is also an avid campaigner for the recognition of social enterprises in T&T.
"I didn't want to be an entrepreneur exactly. But I also didn't want to create an NGO. I believe we need to recognise social enterprises as a legal entity here. That way, we can create more businesses tied to missions that benefit people and the planet while also earning a profit."
As a wife and mother of three, she has committed to continue "spreading the waste management gospel like warm peanut butter". Her passion for improving people’s lives and the environment through education would have it no other way.
Sian’s work was also featured in the global waste management magazine Waste Management World (WMW), and her company was awarded Winner of the Best Waste Education Company in the Caribbean 2019. You can discover more at www.sielenvironmental.com.
