Beaches across Jamaica are being cleared of solid waste by more than 10,000 volunteers for the International Coastal Cleanup Day Jamaica 2019.

The initiative has been

coordinated by the Jamaica Environmental Trust (JET) since 2008.

International Coastal Cleanup Day is on now! — Jamaica Environment Trust (@jamentrust)

International Coastal Cleanup Day is on now! — Jamaica Environment Trust (@jamentrust) #beachcleanupja2019#bigupwibeachja #nuhduttyupjamaica pic.twitter.com/RuxF7eJBMZSeptember 21, 2019

In Kingston at the West Bay at the Palisadoes Lighthouse Beach, Timothee Delebarre, Country Manager for Vincy Construction volunteered along with members of his staff to remove all forms of garbage that had settled there.

“We have collected about 40 bags so far. Most of the solid waste is plastic and we are again reminded of the dangers of plastic and how it can make an impact on the environment by reusing it or eliminating it. We have to look after the environment in which we work and make it better. We have seen flip flop slippers and other forms of garbage,” Delebarre, a French citizen who has adopted Jamaica, told BUZZ

Delebarre echoed a popular

sentiment spoken by the volunteers who were in that section of the island

cleaning the coast. The volume of garbage has increased when compared to former

years.

The cleanup initiative is taking place in every major coastal town across the island. The coastal cleanup will see 138 site coordinators carrying out cleanups in all 14 parishes, including 19 underwater clean-up sites.

— Tourism Enhancement Fund Jamaica (@TEFJamaica)

— Tourism Enhancement Fund Jamaica (@TEFJamaica) #BeyondPlastic#SpruceUpJamaica#InternationalCoastalCleanupDay#TourismEnhancementFund pic.twitter.com/GcZQEAjIMWSeptember 20, 2019

The annual International

Coastal Cleanup Day is funded this year by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF),

Recycling Partners of Jamaica Ltd, Protex, and the Jamaica Public Service

Foundation.