St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA) and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) are organizing the island’s first Crucian Litter Elimination Action Now (CLEAN) event to be held April 24 and 25, which is the weekend prior to the St. Croix Ironman Triathon slated for Sunday, May 2. The goals of this effort are to: promote environmental stewardship; ensure that the beauty of the island stands out to visiting athletes and spectators; facilitate an opportunity for community service and unity amongst St. Croix residents.
Organizations, churches and businesses are asked to adopt a section of the 56-mile course. Volunteers will bag litter between 8-11 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25. Volunteers will leave the bags by the roadside, and the bags will be picked up by a waste removal service.
Volunteers also are needed to act as coordinators for each section. The section coordinator will be responsible for organizing volunteers and supplies for their section and will communicate with Lynnea Roberts, SEA’s environmental education coordinator. Biodegradable bags and gloves will be provided. To be able to cover a section in three hours or less, it is suggested that coordinators recruit 15 to 20 volunteers to pick up the litter of their “adopted” section. Students requesting documentation of community service need to bring their form to the clean-up for their group coordinator to sign.
By participating in this program, groups may elect to become a Preserving Paradise Partner. The V.I. Waste Management Authority’s Preserving Paradise Campaign encourages three main areas of the community to share its mission to “preserve paradise” by participating in one or more of its programs. The Business Partnership encourages business to join with the VIWMA toward improving the environment and working together on joint programs or projects for the betterment of the territory. The community aspect targets neighborhoods and homeowners associations to clean and beautify those areas. The residents are also asked to be the “eyes and ears” of the VIWMA by letting SEA or VIWMA know when there are solid waste or wastewater issues in their neighborhoods. The Kids Program teaches students how to keep their schools, playgrounds, neighborhoods and beaches clean by having them take a pledge to encourage their family and friends to support their efforts.
Anyone interested in being a section coordinator for this important event, contact Lynnea Roberts. There will be a coordinator meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, at the SEA office in Gallow’s Bay. (stxsea@gmail.com)
