Army of Volunteers Attacks Beach Trash on North Ambergris Caye
It’s amazing what 150 or so volunteers can do in just a morning when we put our minds to it.
The Yucatan coast, Belize, and all of Central America are, in a way, the backstop of the Caribbean. And ocean plastics from all over the region – Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Guatemala…you name it…can and do wash up on our shores. Depending on the current and the winds.
(You can watch this short video – of volunteer organizations in Guatemala – working to collect EPIC amounts of trash washing down the Rio Motagua in Guatemala – attempting to intercept it before it reaches the ocean. It’s…overwhelming and heartbreaking)
Here are some bottles I’ve found on northern beaches recently.
Lots of this trash can pile up on the beaches less traveled – where there are fewer homes and resorts. And yesterday, spearheaded by one of the island’s top advocates, Elito Arceo – an army of volunteers attacked the build-up.
Jeff and I were out there…along with scores of high school students, resort staff, residents, the San Pedro town council, the Ambergris North Alliance and fellow lovers of our island…to give this area (from about mile 10 to mile 13, North Ambergris Caye) a bit of a glow-up for the coming season.
It was INCREDIBLE hot…the sun, intense…but I got home, after about 2 hours work, soaked in sweat and feeling pretty damn good (though my lower back begs to differ).
Thank you EVERYONE who organized and participated – the crews from San Pedro Police Department and the cadets, the Belize Coast Guard, Victoria House, Seaduced and Ramon’s Village and Matachica and Vacasa. You ROCK.
Let me show you my pictures. And if you drive north often…or even not that often…you are going to notice a HUUUUUGE difference!
Everyone organizes on the beach and gets to work – the beginning point was just south of El Norte Bar (at about mile 9.5) and the end, the old Margaritaville Belize (now renamed Ambergris Grand)
This area looks well staffed. Jeff and I headed about a mile north and filled 5 or 6 bags (and lost a few liters of sweat)
I ran into a guy I follow on Facebook/TikTok who does some good video content on Life on Ambergris Caye. Here he is giving blood.
Here he is picking up trash.
We headed back to see the AMAZING progress and to take a few more pictures. I was not in the mood…this much sweating and direct sun makes me cranky.
I’ve got a nice red face this morning. Sigh…
Super super super inspiring. WE CAN DO IT.
Thank you to the organizers – Elito and Stephany. And the Town Council and to everyone who handed me a water bag when they saw my red face.
This makes my heart sing. 🙂
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I swear Rebecca, every time I take a minute to read the Scoop and look at the photos, it feels a little like home. It’s been almost 10 years since I last came with my husband who is now deceased, but my heart has always wanted to return and stay as long as possible. (I’m not crying, you are).
Just one more reason to love and admire you!
Wonderful! I can’t wait to be there more so I can help 💙
Love this, can’t wait to get back down. Coming right after Easter! Great work everyone!
That’s Excellent. I live at Sapphire Beach and wish I was there. Will be back in December. Hope that this can happen again. Thanks for the SCOOP
what happens to all the bags of trash collected??? where does it end up?
Also curious about that!
I am almost 100% certain they are taken to the dump – on the south end of the island. That garbage is ultimately taken to the mainland and the large land fill.
Thank you tobeveryone for all the hard work!
Awesome! Awesome!! AWESOME!!! So proud of each and everyone of you❤️👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️
My family and I stayed a few days on Ambergris Caye in February. We were about four miles South, but traveled all the way North to Tranquility Bay. It was VERY noticeable that the cleanup efforts North of the bridge had made a huge difference. Kudos to all involved!
That makes me VERY happy! Thanks for telling me 🙂