Annually, EPIC organizes volunteers for Coastal Cleanups on Sint Maarten/Saint Martin in multiple locations resulting in the removal of thousands of pounds of trash, including many plastics, over more than two decades. Follow us on Facebook to find out about the latest events and how you can help.

In order to reduce litter on beaches, EPIC partnered with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and Princess Juliana International Airport to place 22 much needed trash bins on beaches in 2012. Some of the bins were replaced after Hurricane Irma in 2017 thanks to support from the Prins Bernhard Culture Funds

Cleanup locations vary widely and have included Little Bay Pond and Mullet Pond, where over 40 volunteers, including three groups of Pathfinders, dived, snorkeled, kayaked and walked around this mangrove stand in Simpson Bay Lagoon. Within two hours, the 20-foot dumpster provided by the Department of Environment, called VROMI, was filled to capacity. This event was supported by Be the Change Foundation, Nature Foundation, Tri-Sport, the Department of VROMI, and Island Water World.

There have been approximately 20 years of cleanups, often in coordination with the International Coastal Cleanup program, which processes data on the amount and type of trash collected.

Check out the “Why Do We Litter St. Maarten?” project.