Some 67,000 pounds of trash cleared from island beaches in Coastal Cleanup

The cleanup revealed the problem of single-use plastics, as six of the 10 most commonly found items contained this material.

By The Star Staff

More than 4,000 volunteers joined the International Coastal Cleanup 2024 last Saturday, organized by the Scuba Dogs Society on numerous beaches in Puerto Rico, with the aim of combating single-use plastic pollution and preserving marine ecosystems.

The event, held at 197 shoreline points around the island, was supported by 200 captains who led the initiatives in their respective areas. During the event, more than 233,000 items were collected, totaling 67,000 pounds of trash.

“Volunteer attendance exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the Puerto Rican community’s commitment to protecting the environment and reducing plastic waste in our ecosystems,” said María E. Ocasio, executive director of Scuba Dogs Society.

One of the highlights was the participation of guest captain Carlos Omar Rivera, who said: “Seeing so many people come together to protect our coasts and reduce single-use plastics is a reminder that together we can make a significant difference for our marine ecosystems.”

The cleanup revealed the problem of single-use plastics, as six of the 10 most commonly found items contained this material, including plastic and foam fragments, cigarette butts, plastic caps and bottles, straws and disposable utensils.

The success of the event was made possible thanks to the support of multiple sponsors and collaborators, including AMGEN, Banco Popular, Coca-Cola, Destilería Serrallés, Fundación Liberty, KIA, Triple S and many more.

Scuba Dogs Society reiterated its commitment to coastal conservation and thanked all the volunteers, captains and collaborators who made the event possible. The organization vowed to continue working for a cleaner and healthier Puerto Rico for future generations.