Volunteers clean up Guapo Beach in south

Two hundred and eighty-five volunteers from Point Fortin, including employees of LNG production company Atlantic last month collected 1,536 pounds of non-biodegradable garbage at Guapo Beach in south Trinidad. The volunteers were participating in the annual clean-up of the beach, which was sponsored and organised by Atlantic as part of the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC), held on September 15. The ICC is part of the worldwide effort to stop marine pollution and is the signature event organised by environmental NGO Ocean Conservancy to inspire a global movement for ocean health.

 

 

Volunteers included representatives from the Point Fortin Borough Corporation; the Waste Reduction Environmental Network; community groups; Atlantic employees; and teachers and students from Point Fortin schools. Among the non-biodegradable debris collected at Guapo Beach this year were 2,270 bottlecaps and lids, the most common items salvaged, 1,318 plastic bottles and 1,067 cigarettes and cigarette filters. Data about the garbage salvaged will be compiled with similar data collected at the 17 other beach sites in Trinidad and six sites in Tobago, and further combined with data from the 114 countries around the world that participate in the ICC. Henley Harewood, Atlantic’s Director of Health, Safety and the Environment (HSE) explained that Atlantic had been involved with the International Coastal Cleanup since 2008.  

 

 

“This simple exercise will benefit the future generations by ensuring that the ocean is healthy to fulfil its multiple functions. “The annual beach clean-up helps to preserve the beauty of the beach, and helps to teach Point Fortin and Trinidad about the dangers of littering and the impact on the environment caused when we dispose of our garbage in the incorrect way. “For example, flooding can be alleviated if persons stop littering, do the right thing and dispose of their waste appropriately. This move will aid Trinidadians in the journey towards achieving sustainability.”