Coca-Cola, Kewkradong mark 10th year of cleaning up St Martin’s

Coca-Cola Bangladesh and Ocean Conservancy’s country coordinator Kewkradong Bangladesh have successfully concluded the 10th Annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) programme at the beach of the country’s only coral island — St Martin’s.

As part of Coca-Cola’s global commitment to create a “World Without Waste” by 2030, Coca-Cola has been supporting coastal cleanup voluntary initiatives since 2011 in Bangladesh.

The Coca-Cola company is one of Ocean Conservancy’s longest standing partners, supporting its work since 1995, reads a press release.

Through this partnership, Coca-Cola is working towards clean and pollution-free oceans across the globe.

Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 520 volunteers from different professions came together to collect more than 870kg of marine debris this year. Through the effort by Kewkradong and Coca-Cola Bangladesh, more than 4,500 people have volunteered and collected over 12,000kg of marine debris in the last 10 years.

All COVID-19 protective and safety procedures were followed, such as COVID-19 tests for all, face masks, gloves, sanitizer, and maintaining proper social distance.

Volunteers from different walks of life including students, teachers and local representatives from across the country, participated in collecting and segregation of waste and interacted with and sensitized the beachgoers on the importance of marine conservation.

Muntasir Mamum, founder of Kewkradong Bangladesh, said: “Kewkradong and the International Coastal Cleanup values its partnership with Coca-Cola. We are proud of our network of passionate and devoted coordinators who have been coming to cleanup St Martin’s island for 10 years now.”

Ajay Bathija, managing director of Coca-Cola Bangladesh, said: “We admire the tireless efforts of Kewkradong in keeping the beaches free of plastic debris. Clearing beaches of unwanted litter not only benefits the marine environment but will hopefully inspire others across the country to do the same.”

He further added: “Our participation in the Ocean Clean is part of Coca-Cola’s efforts to help create a world without waste.”

As a part of the day long activity, an opinion exchange meeting was arranged with the local government representatives including the local Union Parishad Chairman and UP members, to discuss the importance of protecting the ecological balance of the environment and ways to keep the coastal areas clean and pollution-free more effectively.

Among others, Alhajj Nur Ahammad, chairman of St Martin Union Parishad, was also present at the event.

International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort, attracting thousands of participants to collect millions of pounds of waste and debris from beaches, lakes and waterways. Their focus was to collect non-disposal wastes such as cigarette filters, chips packet, etc.

After collecting the waste, it was disposed at a specified location and sorted out all patterns of waste items collected during the event.