Seven tons of garbage pulled from the Island's shoreline
Hundreds of volunteers took to the shores to haul away seven tons of trash for the Keep Bermuda Beautiful Annual Marine Cleanup.The Saturday event, targeting 33 sites around the Island, is held in tandem cleanups around the world put on by environmental education group Ocean Conservancy.KBB Executive Director Anne Hyde said 380 showed up — although the launch on Friday, in which Montpelier Re staff teamed with the P6 class of Francis Patton School to clean up Shelly Bay Beach and its environs, got caught in the surprise deluge.Divers gathered with Weldon Wade of Bermuda Ocean Explorers to scour the bottom of Mangrove Bay. Sandys Boat Club members and Somerset Primary students took care of the shoreline.John Smith's Bay in Smiths got cleaned by Saltus Upper Primary students, while a Bermuda College team took care of Elbow Beach.Added Ms Hyde: “A very enthusiastic team from Validus Re tackled Grape Bay beach, and staff members from Butterfield and Vallis cleaned their usual spot at Spanish Point Park.Members of the Sandys Rotary Club came out to clean up Somerset Long Bay, while members of the Fairmont Hamilton Hotel's Green Team tackled Horseshoe Bay Beach.”The US Consulate General staff pitched in at Blue Hole Hill, while a group from the cruise ship Enchantment of the Seas — including the captain — cleaned Dockyard's Malabar shoreline.“We are happy to have volunteers willing to pick up what's out there,” said Ms Hyde. “But also pleased that people are getting the message not to litter in the first place and dispose of their trash properly.”