MARINE litter remains an environmental issue of global and local concern. Among the efforts to fight pollution of our oceans and waterways, is the International Coastal Clean-up. In partnership with volunteer organisations and individuals around the globe, the International Coastal Cleanup™(ICC) engages people to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways. Thanks to volunteers around the world, the ICC has become a beacon of hope, leading and inspiring action in support of our ocean. Since its beginning, over 16 million volunteers have collected more than 340 million pounds of trash. For more than 35 years, the ICC has galvanised communities worldwide to collect trash that pollutes our waterways, making our coasts cleaner and our ocean healthier.

In Guyana, Coastal Cleanup organised by the EPA and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, has over the years, given volunteers from various NGOs an opportunity to network and take an active role in helping to care for the environment. ICC is more than just a cleanup – it is an opportunity to shape decision-making by collecting data on the environment. During clean-ups, every piece of waste collected and observed by volunteers is recorded. The raw data is then sent to Ocean Conservancy for analysis and feeds into a global report on marine litter. The raw data is also used in Guyana to inform us of what types and volumes of waste is more prevalent on our shorelines. This type of data allows us to be specific with our outreach and enforcement actions.
If you are unable to join a cleanup, there are simple, everyday actions that you can take to help tackle marine pollution:

1. Rethink those purchases – do you really need a new item?
2. Reduce the amount of waste you produce;
3. Ensure that you use a bin to dispose of your waste, whether at home, on the seawall or by the riverside;
4. Compost your organic kitchen and yard waste;
5. Educate yourself and others on waste-management tips.
For copies of previous country reports, visit https://www.epaguyana.org/epa/epa-reports1/category/18-epa-reports
Remember to stay safe and follow the guidelines for protecting yourself and others from COVID-19!

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.