January 31, 2020
Embassy of the United States and Rotary Club organize a beach cleanup and turtle release at Playa Cangrejera
The United States Embassy, in collaboration with the Rotary International Club and the Turtle Association of Los Pinos Cangrejera Beach (ATOPLOPC), organized a day to promote environmental awareness and preserve marine species in danger of extinction, through the cleaning of a one-kilometer stretch of the of the Playa Cangrejera and the release of baby turtles into the surf. The activity aimed to raise public awareness of proper waste management and good recycling practices.
The clean-up was attended by U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson, Minister of Tourism Morena Valdés, Minister of the Environment Fernando Lopez, members of the Committee on Environment and Climate Change of the Legislative Assembly, representatives of industrial shrinkwrap company Termoencogibles, employees of the recycling company INSEMA, inhabitants of Cangrejera Beach, and a group of volunteers.
Through these activities, the Embassy of the United States demonstrates its commitment to the promotion of activities that preserve the environment and habitats of marine species in danger of extinction.
The cleaning effort was carried out due to the exceptional management of solid waste, thanks to the donation of bags from recycling company INSEMA. This way, the volunteers were able to efficiently separate the trash into plastics, glass, biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.
On December 19, 2019, the Legislative Assembly adopted into law comprehensive waste management and the promotion of recycling. This legislation was driven by the Committee on the Environment and Climate Change and intends to minimize amounts of solid waste through separation and classification, thereby reducing costs for the collection, treatment and final disposition of waste across the country.
