Operation Respect for the Beach
The beach is a short walk from the land, at Km 35 of the Vía al Mar. In Colombia, beaches are public property, as Decree Law 2324 of 1984 establishes. This beach is not ours. It falls to us to look after it because it is right in front of us.
Operation Respect for the Beach is our day for clearing it.
What we collect and what stays
We collect the litter, wherever it comes from. Seaweed, driftwood, shells and seeds stay on the sand, because they are part of the beach. And because we have committed to leaving the lagoon and its wildlife untouched, the cleanup stays on the sand.
An animal that is tangled or hurt is not touched. We call someone who knows how to help it, as Ocean Conservancy advises.
What reaches these beaches
In 2024, INVEMAR and the regional environmental authority of the Atlántico sampled six tourist beaches in that department, several of them on this same corridor. 96.7 percent of the litter was plastic, mostly polystyrene, bottle caps, disposable cups and cutlery, food packaging, bottles, cigarette butts and bags. According to the report, it arrives with the streams in the rainy season and with the currents.
Those figures are not from our shore. They tell us what to look for in the sand.
How it is collected
Ocean Conservancy recommends that one person keeps the count and records every item as it is picked up, on its data card, which makes one cleanup comparable with the next. Broken glass and sharp objects are collected only by an adult wearing gloves.
What to bring
- Work gloves.
- Water in a reusable bottle.
- Sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent.
- Closed shoes.
If children come along, Ocean Conservancy recommends that an adult is always in charge.
How to join
To join, message us on WhatsApp. If it is your first time on the Vía al Mar, read how to get there.
Since July 7, 2024, Colombia's Law 2232 of 2022 has taken eight single-use plastic products off the market, among them straws and checkout bags. Every one that never reaches the beach is one less to pick up.
