Thursday, 24 May 2012

OUTRAGE AT THE EVER-GROWING VOUME OF PLASTIC TRASH AND GARBAGE LEFT ON RIO DE JANEIRO'S BEACHES.


Outraged at the ever-growing volume of plastic garbage and assorted rubbish that beachgoers leave on Rio de Janeiro's beaches, I decided to take direct personal action in 2010 and started cleaning part of Ipanema beach along the stretch of sand between the low tide and high tide marks. 

Garbage left along this stretch is taken out to sea by waves and the rising tide before the municipal garbage collectors can collect it at the end of the day. They make a sterling effort but cannot keep up with the volume of garbage simply left on the sand by people. Quite apart from being an eyesore and aesthetically ugly, this garbage is very damaging to marine ecosystems. 

At first, I confined myself to cleaning up the beach in a 20-metre radius around where I would sit. Soon, I extended the range of collection along the waterline from a point opposite Rua Teixeira de Melo up to Arpoador rocks.  About 2 or 3 times a week, I run up the sand to Arpoador, collecting garbage as I go and throwing it in the municipal garbage cans/dustbins. 

On a sunny day in the high season, I collect about 70 to 80 kilos of plastic and assorted garbage along this stretch. The worst points in terms of concentration of garbage are situated opposite Rua Teixeira de Melo and at Arpoador. 

The garbage collected includes the ubiquitous plastic water bottles, plastic supermarket bags, plastic straws and bottle tops, plastic cups, PET beverage bottles, beverage cans, biscuit wrappers, polystyrene food packaging, broken surfboards, broken glass bottles, flip-flops, chicken bones and even syringes (some containing blood), dirty diapers (nappies), condoms and sanitary towels. I use gloves because of the danger of contamination.

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