Philipsburg:--- The final results of the International Coastal Cleanup 2008 that was held in September on St. Maarten has been sent to the Ocean Conservancy for adding to the world wide report that is published annually.On St. Maarten 5 beaches were cleaned and inventoried by volunteers who used a ICC designed data card to mark each piece of trash. All data cards are then compiled and made into a final summery card.
The number one trash item found collectively at all 5 beaches in 2008 was glass bottles.
Glass Beverage Bottles;
Mullet Bay Beach 4258
Great Bay Beach 189
Simpson Bay Beach 95
Belair Beach 196
Guana Bay Beach 102
A total of 4840 glass bottles were collected at the 5 beaches inventoried for the 2008 ICC.
In the bottle category, plastic bottles came in higher at the Guana Bay Beach and Simpson Bay Beach, the total amount of plastic bottles collected at the 5 beaches stands at 3111
ICC data over the years on St. Maarten have shown cigarette butts and picnic utensils as being the number one trash item at our beaches.Based on the 2008 results, the St Maarten PRIDE foundation recognizes the need to start with a recycling facility focusing on glass and plastic bottles. Glass bottles can be recycled or crushed. Crushed glass can be used in road works. Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation is advising all large construction roadwork companies such as Windward Roads and MNO Vervat (formerly KOOP) to look into the possibility of using crushed glass for the making of roads as is done in many parts of the world.
There are several small glass crushing machines on island, what is needed is the end usage.
While crushed glass does minimize the volume of waste ending up at the landfill, it would be more beneficial if crushed glass can be used for something useful such as road works, plant pot decoration and local art.
A total of 826 volunteers participated in the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup, with over 634 volunteers comprising of social and community groups, tourism stakeholders and companies coming out to the Mullet Bay Beach on the grand day of September 20th.2008.
Weird trash documented for this year was large bed mattress, a string of Christmas tree lights, several ladies purses, birth control pills, a home testing pregnancy kit, personal bank statements, curtains, a computer tower, a microwave and an old refrigerator.
