On Saturday, September 16th, UPRM student organizations such as Sociedad Honoraria de Biología BBB (TriBeta) and T-MED, got together in Sector El Maní for their yearly coastal cleanup as a part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Around 8:00 a.m. these organizations set up their tables with refreshments, napkins, plastic bags, water, and sound boxes awaiting for an arduous day of work along the Mayagüez coast. Gloves and plastic bags were provided to those participating in the activity. Students arrived and filled up the place ready to work in an effort to clean up the beach, which is known for its heavy contamination.
Before the clock hit 9:00, we were gathered at our starting point, where a brief orientation was offered before setting out to the coast. The most important warning was to avoid any contact with the contaminated water or any biological material without proper protection. We were told to set our alarms to meet back at our starting point at 11:30a.m. When the orientation wrapped up, we finally headed into the woods, through a narrow path that led us to the beach.
We were divided in groups of three to four people and we had to work together and have someone writing down in a sheet of paper what we found. It was extremely important to not stray away from your peers so you didn’t get lost. As soon as we got to the coast, we started walking along the shore under the hot, sizzling sun picking up every piece of trash we encountered.
Everything ranging from old car-seats, to used condoms, needles, empty blood bags, and plastic dolls were found on this solitary beach. Also, the trash that is washed ashore piles up along the coast. We tried our best to clean up as much as we could without putting ourselves at risk.
Around 10:30a.m., earlier than anticipated, most people started heading back to our starting point with bags filled with everything they had found, to eat snacks, have water, wash their hands, and discuss their findings. When we were finished, we headed back to our daily-life activities. It was a very rewarding experience to participate and witness the team effort to do something beneficial toward our community. It is important to keep our coasts clean not only on International Coastal Cleanup Day, but every day of the year!