Over 1,500 pounds of trash removed from Stubbs Bay by JEMS

More than 30 youth and adults pitched in to clean trash and debris from Stubbs Bay last Saturday, September 17.{{more}}

The project was part of the International Coastal Cleanup, uniting thousands of volunteers around the world in a massive single-day effort.

This was the fifth consecutive year for JEMS to lead a cleanup project at the Stubbs Bay site.

“Sadly, little has changed in the past five years,” noted JEMS president Rhonda Lee. “In fact, the volume of trash resulting from careless human actions seems to increase each year,” she said.

As in the past, plastic bottles, bags and containers topped this year’s list of collected items. Clothes, shoes, belts, tires, kitchen appliances, even a Blackberry cover were among the debris.

In just a few hours, the group collected more than 30 bags of trash estimated to weigh over 1,500 pounds.

“Stubbs Bay is an interesting site,” remarked Lee. Few people spend time there, so every trash is deposited directly onto the beach. The great majority is brought in by the Stubbs River or by the sea.

“Obviously, the litter problems at Stubbs Bay can only be solved upstream, at the source; among people in the communities along the river where trash gets tossed without a thought of the consequences downstream.”

Lee reiterated the need for ongoing community education, and indicated that JEMS would take a leadership role in this effort in the months ahead.

Participants in the 2011 Cleanup at Stubbs Bay included members of JEMS, JEMS Youth, environmental clubs at the St. Clair Dacon Secondary School and the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, and representatives of Southeast Development Inc. (SEDI) and the Environmental Management Department.