A total of 4,940 lbs of trash were collected during this year\u2019s International Coastal Cleanup held Friday and Saturday throughout several beaches and coastal locations on island.<\/p>\n
Guy Macaranas, Coastal Resources Management\u2019s 2011 Coastal Cleanup coordinator, said the trash collection for this year\u2019s cleanup is lower compared to last year\u2019s, which totaled over 6,000 lbs. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is good because it means that more and more people are picking up after themselves when they go to the beach and hold parties,\u201d Macaranas told Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n
Macaranas disclosed that based on the data sheets they collected from the volunteers who participated in the cleanup, cigarette butts comprised the biggest number of trash at 1,601 pieces. Other items collected include plastic and glass bottles, beverage cans, plastic spoons and forks, and Styrofoam plates.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s cleanup had 29 volunteer groups: the Saipan Rotary Club, McDonald\u2019s, Tan Holdings, CTSI Logistics, Fiesta Resort, Hyatt, Saipan Grand, PDM Promoters, Winzler & Kelly, Lions Club, Pacific Islands Club, Northern Marianas College, Phi Theta Kappa, NMC Upward Bound Program, U.S. Coast Guard, Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office, Saipan International School, Marianas Visitors Authority with the NMI Diving Operators Association, Marianas Waterworks Corp., Hard Rock Caf\u00e9, Mt. Carmel High School Red Cross Honor Society Club, Marianas Baptist Academy, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist, Team Yalaka, POI Aviation, Department of Public Lands, Division of Environmental Quality, and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. <\/p>\n
Macaranas noted that fewer government agencies took part this year. \u201cI believe this is due to austerity Fridays.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there are fewer volunteers this year, Macaranas said the event was still a success. \u201cI was happy about the event. It\u2019s very successful because people still came out in spite of the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Macaranas noted that the islands of Tinian and Rota had their own coastal cleanups, in coordination with the CRM\u2019s field offices and mayor\u2019s offices.<\/p>\n
Rota\u2019s cleanup was held Monday while Tinian will hold it on Thursday.<\/p>\n
According to Macaranas, the annual cleanup, held simultaneously in different coastlines around the globe, also forms part of CRM\u2019s ongoing Clean Beaches Campaign, which aims to encourage and educate the community about caring for the islands\u2019 beaches and marine resources.<\/p>\n
The campaign\u2019s slogan is \u201cLove your beaches, keep them clean.\u201d<\/p>\n
Macaranas emphasized that more work needs to be done to educate the community and remind them that \u201cthey know better\u201d in terms of caring for the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we keep doing these cleanups and educational campaigns, we would have a better tomorrow,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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