215 volunteers remove 908 kilos
of trash from Mullet Bay Beach
MULLET BAY--A record-breaking 215 volunteers combed Mullet Bay Beach Saturday morning collecting and tallying some 908 kilos of cigarette butts, plastic containers, beer bottles and sundry other items washed up on shore or left behind by beach-goers.
The volunteers were part of the annual worldwide International Coastal Cleanup organised by Ocean Conservancy. The local cleanup was coordinated by St. Maarten Pride Foundation for the third year. The cleanup was coordinated by St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation for some 13 years before being passed on to Pride.
The trash collected filled 93 trash bags that were trucked to the Philipsburg landfill with the help of Clean St. Maarten N.V. The cleanup data cards still have to be tallied in more detail and the foundation hopes to have final figures by the end of the month. The information will be sent to Ocean Conservancy to be combined with the data from around the world and used for lobbying for cleaner oceans, beaches and planet.
Unusual items picked up by volunteers this year included a men’s urinal and a 300-pound sailboat mast. These items joined a number of used condoms, soda cans, bottle caps and other items bagged at the cleanup.
Taking part in this community project were Learning Unlimited Preparatory School students, Caribbean International Academy students and faculty, St. Dominic High School students and Interact Club, Lions and Leo Clubs, Belvedere Residents Association members, Hibiscus, Mohican and other Scout troops, St. Maarten Pride members and other residents.
Some 120 volunteers collected 80 bags of trash totalling some 1,055 kilos last year. The drop in the amount of trash collected was attributed to more beach cleanups by members of local coordinator Pride Foundation. They also hope the improved state of the beach means that beach-goers are more conscious of their role in keeping the beach and shoreline clean.
Pride thanked cleanup sponsors Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco/Volvic water, St. Maarten Lions Club, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) and Clean St. Maarten N.V.
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