Volunteers from across the Seprod Group traded their usual Saturday routines for gloves and garbage bags on September 19, joining the GraceKennedy Foundation’s Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project in observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026. 

Together, volunteers participating in the cleanup helped remove 19,038.2 lbs of waste from Gun Boat Beach and Buccaneer Beach along the Palisadoes.

Observed annually on the third Saturday in September, International Coastal Cleanup Day brings volunteers together to tackle marine litter and draw attention to the impact of improperly discarded waste. This year’s theme, “Sea the Change: Away is a Place,” served as a reminder that what is thrown “away” ultimately ends up somewhere, often in waterways, along coastlines and in the ocean.

For the Seprod Foundation, supporting the initiative provided another opportunity to turn environmental responsibility into direct action.

“Protecting our environment requires all of us to play a part, and International Coastal Cleanup Day gives our team an opportunity to translate that responsibility into action,” said Lisa D’Oyen, Executive Director of the Seprod Foundation. “We are especially proud of our Seprod Group volunteers who gave their time to contribute to this wider effort. The message behind this year’s theme is an important one and the choices we make about waste have consequences for our communities and our environment.”

Beginning early Saturday morning, Seprod Group volunteers worked across the cleanup sites, collecting and separating plastics from general waste before taking filled bags to designated weighing stations. Across the wider cleanup effort, 2,180.8 lbs of plastic and 16,857.4 lbs of general garbage were collected, for a total of 19,038.2 lbs of waste removed from Gun Boat Beach and Buccaneer Beach. The volume provided a tangible reminder of just how much discarded material can accumulate within Jamaica’s coastal environment.

For Seprod Foundation, the charge extends beyond one day of volunteerism. The Foundation is challenging Jamaicans to consider where their waste goes long after it leaves their hands. They also are encouraging individuals, families and businesses to dispose of waste responsibly, reduce their reliance on single-use plastics where possible, and take greater responsibility for keeping Jamaica’s communities, waterways and coastlines clean. Protecting Jamaica’s coastline begins with recognising that there is no true “away” when it comes to waste, and that everyday choices can either contribute to the problem or become part of the solution.

For the Seprod Group volunteers on the ground, the experience brought that message into sharper focus.

“It was rewarding to see our colleagues come together for something that affects all of us,” said Rhonde-Gae Clarke, Seprod Group volunteer. “When you’re actually on the beach collecting and separating the waste, you see firsthand how much ends up in our environment. It makes you think differently about what you throw away and where it eventually goes.”

Through initiatives such as International Coastal Cleanup Day, the Seprod Foundation continues to create opportunities for members of the Seprod Group to contribute their time and energy to causes affecting the communities and environment around them, reinforcing a shared responsibility to help build a cleaner, more sustainable Jamaica.