Plastics swamp in Santo Domingo coastal waters
Ozama River waters have brought plastics, not only seaweed after the torrential rains result of the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl on Tuesday, 10 July 2018.
Tons of garbage has drifted to the Santo Domingo Malecon for all to see. It is the result of the uncontrolled practice of throwing garbage into the Ozama River gullies and streams and the river itself. The garbage has accumulated on the barge bridge that links Santo Domingo’s east and west side. The barge bridge is also flooded by seaweed.
The garbage has flooded from the barge bridge all the way down to Guibia Park off the Malecon and other beachfronts along the southern Caribbean Sea coastline of the capital city of Santo Domingo.
Listin Diario and El Caribe shared videos and reports showing the garbage that accumulated since Tuesday to Friday, 13 July.
Brigades from the Ministry of Public Works, the National District government with the support of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) that lent heavy equipment (backhoe loaders) and volunteers began to clear the tons of plastics that flooded to the Malecon. Around 1,200 men were stationed in the clean up operation on Friday, 13 July. The actions took place at the points of Plaza de Montesinos, Guibia Beach and the Obelisco Hembra, where the garbage accumulated on the beachfronts.
National District Mayor David Collado complained that the garbage originated primarily in other municipalities of Santo Domingo, but of the three municipalities only his was having to carry the cost for the correct disposal. He said the operation will cost the capital city government RD$10 million. He estimated at around 1,600 tons the garbage that needs to be removed, mostly plastics. He called for coordination between the operators of the floating bridge over the Ozama River and the city government. He said the bridge is best used to capture the floating garbage and collecting at that site and not letting the garbage flow down to the Malecón.
Recyling leader, Virginia Heinsen said that the garbage that flowed down to the Malecon is just the tip of the iceberg. She said the problem originates north of the coastline and affects the river beds. Heinsen who directs the Sostenibilidad 3Rs and the recycling programs at the Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal (Cedaf) said: “80% of all the garbage we are seeing on the beach comes from inland, the gullies, the streams, the rivers. We accomplish nothing cleaning the beaches if we do not attack the problem affecting the rivers. She called for more citizen education and consequences.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
July 17, 2018
Category: DR News |