Volunteers filled the shoreline before breakfast. More than 80 people donated their Saturday morning to International Coastal Cleanup Day at Little Bay Beach, Sint Maarten. They moved steadily with gloves, tally sheets, and bags to capture not just the garbage but also the data on waste collected. By the end of the event, teams had removed 2,397 pounds of trash from the beach and nearshore areas. The number is a community win, and it is also a warning. Little Bay has yielded more than 1,000 pounds of trash every year during the annual International Coastal Cleanup event, which points to a larger problem that cannot be solved by cleanups alone.
The work followed a simple rhythm that keeps the site safe and efficient. Collect items. Sort by category. Record the counts. Tally sheets help show what is really washing up or being left behind. If caps and straws spike, outreach can focus there. If takeout fragments and wrappers dominate one stretch, nearby vendors and neighborhoods can be part of the solution. Data turns a few hours of labor into a year of better decisions.
This year’s effort did not begin on the sand. In the lead up to ICC, an extra recycling bin at Carrefour on Bush Road gave residents a place to drop Type 2 and Type 5 plastics during store hours. That simple addition helped clear out cupboards and kept recyclable material out of cleanup bags. It also reminded people that small choices away from the beach help the beach most.
The event was successful because of partners and local support. The Nature Foundation of Sint Maarten coordinated onsite and kept communication moving. Businesses stepped up with water, snacks, shade, and supplies, including Heavenly Water, Cost U Less, Carl and Sons, Divi Resort, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar and Restaurant, Lucky Stables, Nectar, and The Scuba Shop. Their help made the event smoother for first-time volunteers and regulars alike.
There is pride in the total weight, but there is also concern. Pulling more than a ton of trash from one beach should not be normal. The results highlight the urgent need to cut single-use plastics and improve waste management on the island. That includes better access to bins, more consistent collection, and clear guidance for businesses and households. Progress is possible when conservation efforts address multiple areas, such as cleanups, policy, and everyday habits which move a community in a positive direction.
Thank you to everyone who showed up and to the site leads who kept things safe and steady. Cleanups are most effective when they are regular and local. A few hours on a Saturday can keep hundreds of small items out of mangroves and reefs, and those small wins add up over a year.
Photo credits go to Nature Foundation Sint Maarten.
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Follow for volunteer updates: @epicislands and @Nature Foundation Sint Maarten
