This week, starting today, July 25, 2011 marks the 2011 Utila Clean Up Festival!
Formerly known as the Utila Trash Festivalthis is the 2nd annual effort to help promote awareness of the issues and solutions regarding keeping the island beautiful and for everyone, including the endangered sea turtles and swampers, which nest at the beach.
The main focus of the event is involving local schools into the celebration; to that end the Utila Public School, Adventist School, and Methodist Schools each have a day or more that is “theirs” where they focus on a certain area on Utila and the Cays (see schedule below).
Travellers, locals, and expats are also welcome and encouraged to lend a hand- its a great effort, and also a way to see a part of the island you may not be familiar with!
Final celebration is Sunday at the Champa in Blue Bayou.
Want to Get Involved? See schedule at end of post, and if you want to get involved, vist Bessie at Hotel Margarita Bay – its right next to Chepes beach and across from Driftwood Grill. Or email her at HotelMargaritaBay@yahoo.com. Also see our 4 easy ways to get started below.
This effort is is led by the Utila Iguana Station, Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), Utila Chamber of Tourism, Dive Centers who are participating in the undewater cleanups, along with individuals who help coordinate the different clean ups, including Nerry Bodden, Osgood, Gustavo, Laurence, Daniel Apoyo, Bessy Chirinos (Margarita Bay Hotel), in conjunction with other groups and the community.
Today, Monday, saw the start of the second annual clean-up festival. The photo above is of public school students getting ready for the opening march through town.
~Help Keep Utila Clean and Beautiful~
Here’s Utila Guide’s top 4 suggestions that are amazingly easy to start right now!:
1) Stop getting all those plastic bags at the grocery store! Bring back the ones you have to re-use, and then use a backpack and a small cooler for when you shop!
2) Buy your sodas and beers in GLASS BOTTLES rather than the plastic containers. The glass bottles are truly recyclable. Sure its a little more effort, but don’t you think the island and the sea (and its critters) are worth a little hassle on your end?
3) Re-use your water bottles! Holy cow we see people go through tons of water bottles -whether they are on vacation or living here. If you live here, consider buying a metal one that you can re-use often. If passing through and keeping your load light, there are still many places that will refill your plastic bottles.
4) Re-cycle your aluminum cans!Yes you can! William (also known as the “shrimp guy”) will eagerly take your aluminum cans. You can bring them to Utila Realtyoffice (next to Munchies) or up to Bica. Please crush and give a quick rinse first.
Contact the Utila Iguana Station on their facebook page to learn more about what you can do to help!
For more about the island of Utila, see www.UtilaGuide.com
Schedule of Events for Utila Trash Festival (In Spanish). For more details, write to Bessy at hotelmargaritabayutila@yahoo.com or see Bessy at Hotel Margarita Bay, Right Next to Chepes Beach!
