The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), national coordinator of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, is reporting that data tallying is now under way for ICC 2022 activities which took place on September 17.

For the first time since JET has hosted this annual event, a total of 225 sites were cleaned by 184 registered groups. An estimated 9,000 volunteers participated in cleanups in every parish across the island.

Lauren Creary, JET’s programme director, disclosed in a statement yesterday (September 30) that, “We are really pleased with the feedback we have received from our ICC coordinators so far. There was a lot of interest this year and the turnout of volunteers was significantly more than the last two years but still less than pre-pandemic.”

“Since the data is still being collated, we don’t have an estimate of the total volume of waste collected from around the island as yet. Data from the registered groups are to be submitted to JET by October 7, 2022, so that we can prepare our national report,” Creary explained further.

ICC Day is typically a one-day volunteer event that takes place on the third Saturday in September. For the last two years, however, JET took a new approach to cleanup activities for ICC hosting smaller cleanups spread over a few weeks.

This was due to restrictions imposed by the Government of Jamaica as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, JET hosted its flagship cleanup at the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track after a two-year hiatus.

Dr Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, CEO of the local environmental watchdog, said “We had a great turn out. We estimate that our 1,076 volunteers collected approximately 5,000 pounds of garbage. This is less garbage than in previous years, which is a good thing.”

“This event is important not just because we are cleaning up our coastlines and in turn protecting our marine environment, but it is an opportunity for people to learn. This problem we have with solid waste ending up in our environment is a people problem and people have to be a part of the solution,” added Rodriguez-Moodie.

Continuing, Creary said, “ICC 2022 took months of planning and preparation. We could not have done this without the support of our sponsors and behind-the-scenes volunteers. We are truly grateful for the support”.

Funding for ICC 2022 this year was primarily received from JET’s longstanding donor, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and international ICC partners, the Ocean Conservancy. TeamSeas, Nestlé Jamaica Limited, International Ingredients and Versachem Limited along with other local sponsors also made the event possible.