This meet up of collecting garbage from Kallady beach was initially scheduled to begin at 9 am but we started at 8 am since most of the expected participants turned up on time. I was excited to see the enthusiasm of Batticaloa local guides as always and we were about to start the journey. Most of them had also missed their breakfast while rushing to the meet-up site. However, Thinesh has managed to bring us all some hot- homemade string hoppers kottu, a popular Sri Lankan delicacy and is loved by people around Batticaloa. We were only five at that time and we all shared it.
I have already purchased some XXL size garbage bags and were all set ready to begin the fun. Ahamed initially spotted an Ice Cream cover and officially inaugurated the garbage collection session organized by Batticaloa Local Guides at Kallady beach. Then everyone followed him with much enthusiasm in the sunny morning of Eastern Sri Lanka. At the beginning, Charles who is a Boy Scout from St. Michales College, Batticaloa along with Thinesh, made us aware of the first aid and other techniques which we should abide to, in order to stay safe throughout the session. Every one of us was equipped with pairs of gloves which we change frequently throughout the session. We avoided rubber gloves which might have stayed longer, but due to the hot weather, we used thin tissue gloves for out convenience and changed them frequently to ensure cleanliness and safety.
Initially, we thought, it would take us 5-6 hours to complete the task in the planned area, as we saw all those beverage bottles, cans and food spills along the beach. However, our speed was up to ten bags within the first half an hour. In a while, some other guys joined us. They were non-other than Gajan who joined us during the last meet up, Piriyan and Sajanthan and two other guys were there too. I had an extra Tshirt which fitted Sajanthan and he was excited to have it.
Everyone, hurried us before the sun comes out with its spellbound sweatiness. Also, we decided to start this kind of activities early in the morning even before the sun rises so that we can complete the task with less sweat and sun tanning in future. We took selfies on our way, keeping the garbage bags we collected too; considering them as considerably recyclable aspects. The most important etiquette about beach cleanups is a responsible disposal of garbage. Clean up will be useless if the garbage is again piled up at one place near the location. Because there are high chances of birds and stray dogs pick them and make a bigger more concentrated mess than what it was like when scattered. So our important task was to complete the session was to take the garbage to the right place. So we decided to pile them over at a place assigned by the Municipal council so that they’ll be further processed in a proper manner.
Completing the above, we went to the next location. It is a Casuarina belt planted as a bio-shield. This is normally considered as a quiet and calm place by people to sit and talk as well as for trespassers who walk along the beach. Here, we collected quite a lot of garbage too.
Piriyan, one of the participant proposed to do a mapping of abandoned parks using my maps and collect information about those parks and share with the relevant authority proposing some recommendations.
I could notice these two scout fellows cleaning so quickly asking for more and more bags. I had a question in my mind whether our local guides are performing faster or are there this much of garbage left in this beach ecosystem. At last, I realized both statements were true. The place where we piled up the garbage collected at the previous location of the kallady beach was about a two minutes’ drive from the Casuarina belt. In order to facilitate the relevant authorities, we took these garbage to the right place too.
You will understand the difference looking at these pictures.
Also, at the end of the session, we came up with some suggestions for the municipal councils and other relevant authorities regarding the sustainable management of these waste filling at beaches rather than undertaking campaigns like these. Prevention is always better than cure.
These suggestions may seem silly at times but these will work for sure.
- The person who is assigned to distribute ticket to the visitors at the beach entrance may give paper bags advising them to bring back their own garbage back to the right place
- Keep disposable bags at certain accessible places where people can find it easily and dispose them in a right way
- Set of guards such as Environment police who are assigned by the relevant authorities who may also have the power to give spot fine with tickets for those who spill garbage at beaches and public places like these may also be a sustainable solution
We are now in the progress of taking these suggestions and the message to the higher level authorities expecting some virtuous change in the society.
special thanks to Batticaloa Local guides and the participants @Kajan746 , @DilibAjanthM , Thinesh, Sanjeevan,Ahamad, Meshanth*, Piriyan, Sangeeth, Charles, Shane*
Big thanks to @ErmesT for giving way to such a thoughtful initiative. It was all your thought we follow. Let’s make a big change. more information please check this Local Guides clean the world
