Every September, thousands of people around the world turn their attention to the coast. It is a month when communities, organizations, and volunteers come together to remove waste and raise awareness about its impact. The goal is also to protect coastal ecosystems.
This year, Cap Cana Foundation once again joined this effort with a cleanup at Macao Beach. The result was significant: 677.4 kilograms of waste removed from the coastline in a single day.
The activity took place on September 18 and brought together 107 people. Volunteers, Cap Cana team members, residents, public institutions, and tourism industry partners took part. In total, they filled 88 bags.
More than half was recyclable
Of the 677.4 kilograms collected, 381.8 kg were recyclable materials, accounting for more than half of the total.
Glass represented the largest amount, at 288 kg. The collection also included 74 kg of PET, 12.8 kg of aluminum, and 7 kg of HDPE.
These materials will be reintegrated into recycling and recovery processes. This helps prevent them from remaining in the coastal environment or ending up in landfills.
The remaining 295.6 kg consisted of general waste. It was disposed of according to established waste management protocols.
Sorting the collected waste also helps identify the types of materials reaching our shores. This information can help define the problem and encourage better practices to reduce waste at its source.
107 people for Macao Beach
Cap Cana Foundation’s cleanup in Macao brought together volunteers from Hyatt Cap Cana, Secrets Cap Cana, Dreams Macao, and Hyatt RD. Cap Cana team members and residents also participated, along with Cap Cana Foundation volunteers and members of the Costa Macao Neighborhood Association.
They were joined by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Politur, and the Verón Punta Cana City Council, as well as other community volunteers.
Macao Beach is one of the most visited and naturally significant coastal areas in the eastern region of the country. These initiatives are part of Cap Cana Foundation’s ongoing environmental efforts to support the conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Why is September the month for coastal cleanups?
International Beach Cleanup Day was established in 1991. The initiative aims to mobilize communities to clean beaches, rivers, and wetlands. Today, more than 123 countries participate in these efforts, combining waste collection with environmental education and awareness.
However, organized coastal cleanup efforts began even earlier. In 1986, Ocean Conservancy launched an initiative in Texas that led to the creation of the International Coastal Cleanup.
The initiative had one important distinction. Volunteers did more than collect waste. They also documented what they found to better understand what was reaching the coast.
In the Dominican Republic, these cleanup efforts take place in September. Institutions, companies, organizations, and volunteers come together around a shared purpose: protecting the coastline and promoting more responsible waste management.
