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960 lbs of trash collected in BECQ cleanup at Jeffrey’s Beach
The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality team was led by BECQ administrator Eli Cabrera in the cleanup at Jeffrey’s Beach. (Photos by IVA MAURIN)
More than 25 people volunteered at the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s cleanup last Saturday at Jeffrey’s Beach where 960 lbs of trash were collected.
In an interview, Toxic Waste Management manager Greg Reyes said that in a survey of the beaches on the island, Jeffrey’s Beach was identified as among the beaches on island with the most trash. According to Reyes, majority of the trash collected are bottles, bottle caps, and even toothpaste that had drifted from the ocean.
“Littering is a major problem on the island. In regards to beach sites, beachgoers sometimes go to the each and they don’t pick up after themselves. For that part, I highly encourage people to pick up after themselves,” Reyes said. “Be more responsible. When you go to the beach, pick up after yourself. We highly encourage volunteers, and we will be publishing a press release for our next beach cleanup.”
The trash is hauled away for disposal at the Marpi landfill after every cleanup. Last month, during the cleanup at Coral Ocean Point, volunteers collected 1,020 lbs of trash.
Since 1997, BECQ’s Cleanup Brigade gets together with volunteers from the community every month on a Saturday to clean a pre-chosen location for just two hours, beginning at 8am. The bureau conducts and those that are identified as having the most trash gets to be selected as sites for the cleanup. The location of the monthly cleanup varies throughout the year, and will be posted on https://www.facebook.com/CNMIBECQ/.
If you want to volunteer, or for more information about volunteering, contact the BECQ office at 664-8500/1.
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- Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality ‘s Larry Maurin collects trash at Jeffreys Beach.
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- The collected trash is hauled to the vehicle for hauling to the Marpi landfill.
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- Hauling collected trash from the beach.
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- BECQ staff and volunteers clean up Jeffrey’s Beach.
