The Energy Chamber has long been a dedicated supporter of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up. For the past decade, we’ve collaborated with our member companies and various NGOs to clean up beaches at Carli Bay in Couva, Vessigny Beach in La Brea and Quinam Beach, on the coast due south of Siparia. Over time, we’ve focused more of our efforts on Quinam Beach, which remains a beautiful southern Trinidadian gem, despite the significant trash accumulation it faces.
From 2015 to the present, our volunteers have removed almost 10,000 pounds of trash from the beach. This annual effort was only paused in 2017 (when we went to Carli Bay) and during the COVID-19 years from 2020 to 2022. During this same period, we have had the support of over 1,700 volunteers who have made this programme a success.
The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up is a global effort that collects vast amounts of data on marine debris. According to the organisation, an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, harming over 1,300 species of marine life, including seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Plastic never truly breaks down; instead, it fractures into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics are now found in the most remote parts of the world, from the depths of the Mariana Trench to mountain tops, and even in our food and water.
At Quinam, our observations mirror the global problem. Despite our annual cleanups, we continue to collect vast amounts of trash. While we have built a great relationship with the Penal-Debe Regional Corporation—which has maintained the beach more regularly since facilities were refurbished in 2022 — we still remove an average of over 1,100 pounds of garbage each year.
We’ve also noticed a clear correlation between the number of volunteers and the volume of trash collected. More volunteers, mean teams can cover a greater distance on the beach and even venture into inland areas, maximising our impact. This collaborative effort also provides a unique opportunity for team building and networking among participating companies. Some teams even turn it into a friendly competition, striving to collect the most trash. Others go above and beyond, ensuring the beach is spotless by the end of the day.
One of the things that we are most proud about is the involvement of many young people and children in the clean-up efforts, mainly through some of the scout troops active in the area. Their involvement in picking up other people’s trash helps reinforce the sense of community involvement and personal responsibility.
Everything picked up on the beach is recorded on data sheets that are submitted to the Ocean Conservancy. This allows data to be collated nationally and regionally and appropriate policies proposed.
Similar to the Ocean Conservancy’s global findings, the most common items we find are plastic and glass bottles, food containers, cups, and wrappers. One item that is ubiquitous, but frequently overlooked is styrofoam, likely because it is so lightweight. However, it is especially concerning as it is not biodegradable or recyclable.
Last year, the nationwide cleanup initiative in T&T collected over 20,000 pounds of trash from our beaches, highlighting the scale of the problem.
While cleanup initiatives are crucial for removing pollution from the environment, the sad reality is we return every year to find more. We should all make an active commitment to leave our environment better than we found it. We encourage everyone to enjoy our beautiful beaches to the fullest, but please make a conscious effort to remove what you bring and to properly dispose of garbage.
It is disheartening to return to the same beaches year after year and find such a large volume of trash. Our ultimate hope is that a day will come when we can visit the beach and find no trash to remove.
