Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
OP Offline

Ambergris Caye is a bustling, growing island community. Some areas have more public services than others. The "Middle Island" area begins about 4 miles north of town and extends an additional 4 miles. There are no public services for cleaning beaches or roadsides in this area.

Residents, via their Middle Island Neighborhood Watch group decided to tackle the problem of beach and roadside trash. The program has been a smashing success. Outlined below is a brief story of what we're doing on both beach and road in our neighborhood. We found that the more we accomplish the more support we receive. The cleaner the area is, the longer it stays clean. The community is coming together in a really good way and the results are significant.

As you know, plastic is in the sea and much of it lands up on what would otherwise be pristine natural beaches. We decided to tackle this ongoing problem as follows:

1. A regular update to neighbors on conditions. Trash deposits are sometimes very light and at others really heavy. Many of property owners are part-time and may not know what is happening in a given day. Our communications along with photos keep them aware.

2. Organizing deep-cleaning of beach ares. There is considerable undeveloped property along the beach and nobody is "there" to clean it. Donations from concerned residents and owners have funded small teams of cleaners, have paid for materials (bags and gloves) and the hauling and disposal of the trash collected. Volunteers oversee these clean-up efforts.

3. A construction team has made some beach barrels (wood enclosure/heavy-duty barrel inside) as shown below. Photos of prototypes were distributed to the MINW area via our mail list. Property owners have stepped forward to sponsor one or more beach barrels. The design is meant to be both attractive and practical. We have a lot of raccoons in the area so we needed a heavy lid on the enclosures to ensure that what goes in the barrel stays in the barrel until it is collected and taken away. Sponsors pay for a barrel (cost is nominal - $160 US), typically placing it in front of, or very near their property. They then are responsible for maintaining the barrel - for putting trash liners in the barrel and periodically emptying and carrying away the refuse along with their own household garbage.

One neighbor donated some educational signs which are being put on each barrel.

Middle Island Neighborhood Watch also tackled the problem of roadside refuse in the area. The program followed steps 1 & 2 noted above. Donations funded deep cleans and then resorts stepped up to make and maintain roadside trash barrels. Large educational signs accompany each barrel. After a deep clean is completed we still need to clean roadsides regularly. A program of resorts and businesses adopting a stretch of road is currently being implemented.

Beach Barrels


Roadside barrels with educational signage




Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 371
Offline
Thank you Diane, Janice and Jan ( Portofino) and the other volunteers whose names I don't know... How about writing a check for 10,20 or 100 dollars made payable to Diane Campbell, or Janice Feldman to help with this project. You don't need to be a middle island resident to contribute as the clean up is appreciated by all..


A little known fact... Women who are overweight tend to live longer than men who mention it...
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,675
Offline
It's an effort that makes everyone feel good and has a lot of positives but from my experiences the trash cans only mark the spot for passers by to throw garbage bags. These locations will soon be dump sites. Education of the youth is a better effort.' Beta no Lita' campaign is a more effective technique of correcting the problem. https://www.sanpedroscoop.com/2017/09/can-totally-cleaning-belize.html


White Sands Dive Shop
https://whitesandsdiveshop.com/
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
Offline
Update ......... the barrels are a success and the areas around them are not dump-sites - why? because they are maintained. Thank you to those who take care of the program. Agree that education is important and part of that education is setting an example.

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 147
J
Offline
J
Terrific community effort, and how wonderful that it's a success! We are grateful to all who are helping to keep our Isla Bonita beautiful to all!!

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
Offline
Originally Posted by JaHo
Terrific community effort, and how wonderful that it's a success! We are grateful to all who are helping to keep our Isla Bonita beautiful to all!!


Now we need somebody to pull the program together from Captain Morgan's going south. Some areas are pretty nice, others nasty. Any volunteers?
I'll help you get started - after a while the program is relatively self-sustaining. Send a PM if you want to do this. Thanks.

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 371
Offline
I again applaud the efforts of Diane and the people who make up the core of this clean up effort.. Let me again make a pitch for you to HELP the group by donating whatever you can to help pay for the trash bags, gas and incidentals that this group needs..

Diane, I won't be down until May but I will be in touch and see to it that another check is drawn for you.. Please make any checks out to DIANE CAMPBELL or JANICE FELDMAN


A little known fact... Women who are overweight tend to live longer than men who mention it...
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Cayo Espanto
Click for Cayo Espanto, and have your own private island
More Links
Click for exciting and adventurous tours of Belize with Katie Valk!
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 266 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums44
Topics79,199
Posts500,011
Members20,460
Most Online7,413
Nov 7th, 2021



AmbergrisCaye.com CayeCaulker.org HELP! Visitor Center Goods & Services San Pedro Town
BelizeSearch.com Message Board Lodging Diving Fishing Things to Do History
BelizeNews.com Maps Phonebook Belize Business Directory
BelizeCards.com Picture of the Day

The opinions and views expressed on this board are the subjective opinions of Ambergris Caye Message Board members
and not of the Ambergris Caye Message Board its affiliates, or its employees.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5