It’s beach clean up time again!
Government’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will next month be continuing its national marine litter project, this time with a beach clean up at Morgan Lewis in St. Andrew, on Saturday, September 25, beginning at 7:00 a.m.
While all Barbadians are welcome to participate, a special invitation is being extended to residents of the neighbouring Shorey Village community.
Interested persons are asked to register with the EPD by Monday, September 13. They can do so by contacting a Marine Pollution Officer at telephone number 310-3620 or the EPD’s PBX at 310-3600.
Bus transportation will be provided to and from the clean up site. Volunteers needing transportation are asked to assemble at the EPD Headquarters, Dalkeith, St. Michael, by 5:45 a.m. on the morning of the clean up, for a prompt 6:00 a.m. departure. Those who prefer to go directly to the site are asked to meet in the car park of the Conrad Hunte Sports Club in Shorey Village, St. Andrew, by 6:30 a.m.
The marine litter project focuses on educating the public about the causes and effects of marine litter and provides information on the types and amounts found on the island’s beaches.
According to the EPD, data collected between 2006 and last year indicates that the majority of litter found on our beaches comes from shoreline and recreational activities. This includes that originating from storm water run-off, as well as from direct littering of beaches by beach users.
Last year’s clean up at Morgan Lewis netted over 1,800 caps and lids; 658 beverage bottles; 370 articles of clothing and shoes; more than 300 buoys and floats?? and just over 500 cosmetics and medication containers, among other types of garbage. The volunteers collected everything from traffic signals to plastic forks, fishing nets and straws. cgaskin@barbados.gov.bb
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