Earth Day 2020: Litter Collection during Exercise Time
14 April, 2020 – The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) traditionally celebrates ‘Greening TCI’ Month between 22 April and 23 May year. The month, which usually kicks off with Earth Day, and ends with International Turtle Day, is one which celebrates the natural environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands, brings awareness to threats facing it and the global threats and actions being taken to heal our planet.
Although COVID-19 presents us with challenges in traditionally celebrating this month, the DECR sees this as an opportunity to bring a community together in action, for the greater good. As we are working hard, together, to ensure that the virus is contained through social-distancing and the prescribed lockdown, there is also no longer an opportunity to intentionally litter. The opportunity now, is that we can use this time to clean up our islands and set a new baseline for the health of the Islands as a whole.
The DECR would like to encourage households who are using the prescribed exercise hours each day (5am – 9am and 5pm – 7pm, daily) to grab some garbage for the globe! Carry a garbage bag along on walks, picking up litter wherever possible. This way we are maintaining the Islands’ health, as well as our own.
Benefits of litter collection:
• Picking up litter helps prevent wildlife (such as birds) from chancing upon it;
• It reduces public costs spent on litter clean-up annually - These costs are shared by government and local businesses, so picking up litter can help put those funds to something else your community will benefit more from;
• Litter can clog storm water drains and cause flooding;
• Litter collects water, which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes;
• Organic waste not properly disposed of can cause algal blooms in water reducing the amount of available oxygen for fish and other aquatic creatures;
• Shows respect for others, the environment and yourself;
• Crime is lower in areas that are clean and well maintained;
• Clean is beautiful -- good for the heart and soul;
• The presence of litter attracts more litter.
