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Puerto Rico

The current weather in Culebra
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Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Becky Larson (---.neo.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-13-13 17:16

Hello this is my first posting to this but I thought it the best way to ask the locals about the garbage situation. I have been to Culebra twice about 7 years apart. My recent visit I very much noticed so much garbage around the island, particularly around the town. Seems like many people just toss their paper out the window, abandon cars on many streets, some houses almost falling down in complete dis-repair. Has there been any concerted effort to clean things up? I did not notice any organized recycling system... receptacles in the "tourist" areas maybe? Does anyone else notice this? The island has such natural beauty I'm alarmed how much I noticed the trash compared to my last visit. Any thoughts? I'm worried it will get worse! I would hate to see such a beautiful place spoiled by lazy people who can't pick up after themselves or just leave their junk car on the road for someone else to deal with!
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JeffandMary (192.42.83.---)
Date:   01-15-13 10:12

We plan to be locals but aren’t yet. Thanks for your post, it is an important issue. Littering and a lack of recycling seem to be a problem everywhere. It is particularly distressing to see it in beautiful Culebra. Particularly because Culebra is not too big and there aren’t too many people so you would think it could be kept under control. I agree that there seems to be a definite lack of effort. Perhaps some kind of program can be organized by someone. I know a church group picks up litter along the beach. I have seen what looks like municipal employees picking up litter along the side of the road. I know money is tight. Perhaps some of the more well-off residents or visitors can finance someone who would be willing to put their time and organizational skills into assembling a crew that would be willing to patrol the island and pick up the litter. Perhaps they could be paid minimum wage or perhaps work four hours in the morning for a free lunch or something like that. Perhaps if someone knows someone on the big island and arrangements can be made with the cargo ferry, the old abandoned cars can be sent over for recycling. Perhaps when the crew isn't picking up garbage they could be boarding up and painting some of those abandoned houses. Heck, I would be interested in buying and fixing up one of those houses myself. The point is that if we want things to stay nice we have to put forth the effort to keep them that way. I imagine that most of the litter is from tourists. I think that it’s going to be up to the locals to keep things cleaned up. Even though we only visit Culebra for a week once a year we would be willing to spend a couple mornings or afternoons helping to clean up Culebra. Does anyone know if there are any organizations doing anything like this on Culebra?
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Becky Larson (---.neo.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-15-13 10:30

Terrific ideas, wish there was more of this happening right now on the island!
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: GEichelberger (---.mycingular.net)
Date:   01-15-13 11:28

Ultimately the people who are are there everyday are going to have to care in order for the results to last and really matter. Last year I arrived at melones and a young couple was using the picnic table. By the time I unloaded my stuff, they had left in their car, leaving the table full of beer cans and paper plates and packaging, all of which blew off the table and around the grounds before they even pulled out. The trash can is practically right next to the table! How can people have so little regard even while enjoying the beauty of the place they are turning into a dump? It is all about attitudes, and all too often the attitude we encounter on main Island and even on Culebra is just the old "I don't give a crap". A few of these turds will ruin the beauty for everyone else. How hard is it to just throw your own trash in a can that you will pass on the way to your car anyhow. To me, this incident spoke volumes. There is a lot more to protecting the environment than saving coral reefs. Try teaching people not to litter as a start.
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JeffandMary (192.42.83.---)
Date:   01-15-13 17:48

Yes, that is true. I grew up in the 70's and at that time I remember a concerted effort to teach people not to litter. There was a lot of advertisement and public awareness. Then, when the 80's rolled around, it all just disappeared and everyone went back to their bad habits of just throwing things on the ground or not cleaning up after themselves in public places. There really does need to be an effort made to teach people the consequences of littering. You'd think common sense would be enough but apparently not. So, they need to learn. Culebra is small so it might be easier to start there. Someone should post signs and place plenty of garbage cans around to make it easier for the less motivated ones.
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Geronimo (---.customer.broadstripe.net)
Date:   01-16-13 15:59

Parents need to teach their children. And I remember that Indian crying at the littered stream in the 70's.
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Arroz (173.243.87.---)
Date:   01-17-13 15:55

I would suggest that the children need to teach their parents. The children can still be taught.
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Hoss (---.lightspeed.tukrga.sbcglobal.net)
Date:   01-22-13 08:53

We have observed the increasing trash problem. The last trip we made was made during turkey day. We spent a hour each day picking up trash on the beach. We have noticed a lot more boat activity in comparison to previous years.
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JeffandMary (---.chi.clearwire-wmx.net)
Date:   01-23-13 17:11

Were you part of an organized group or did you just go out on your own? Just walk down the beach with a big trash bag? Mostly at Flamenco or at Zoni too? What kind of stuff is mostly out there plastic, cans, paper? Hopefully not glass. I would like to know because I could do something like that when I visit too. Thanks.
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Re: Garbage
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Geronimo (---.customer.broadstripe.net)
Date:   01-24-13 10:20

I saw a lot of plastic floating in the water at Flamenco and would pick it up and put it in the trash cans there. I didn't see that at Zoni. Glass on the beach is rare at those two beaches. Louis Penia has a lot of beach glass and it is worn smooth and great for art projects. The east shore of Culebrita has a ton of rubbish. The way it is shaped it catches all of the debris from St Thomas. Pela is also a good island for collecting beach glass.

There used to be a ton of plastic corks on Zoni from the cruise ships popping champaign. That seems to have stopped over the past 10 years.

I usually bring a small plastic grocery bag with me when I go to the beach and it I see any trash I just collect it and throw it away back at the house.
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