Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — Environmental Directorates of Puerto Morelos headed a microplastic beach clean Wednesday. The sifting of sand to remove the microplastics was carried out at Access 6.
Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz said the microplastic cleanup day was held as part of the Green Axis of the Puerto Morelos Municipal Development Plan implemented for environmental protection.
The activity was held at Access 6 beach in coordination with the Environmental Directorates, Zofemat, and the Youth Institute, who invited citizens to participate in the cleanup. The beaches are an important source of income for the tourist destination and a public conservation policy, said the Director of the Environment, Michel Mesta.
“Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimeters in diameter, found in the environment due to the degradation of larger materials. They contaminate soils and oceans and can cause changes in ecosystems,” she explained.
She added that around 70 people participated in the cleanup, including students from the Colegio de Bachilleres, who swept with rakes and sifted the sand to collect the waste.
Heriberto Prado Virgen, the Zofemat Director of Maintenance, Preservation and Cleaning, said that at the end of the beach cleanup, four kilograms of solid microplastics were collected. In addition, plastics, PET bottles, chips and other debris were collected, totaling 60 kilograms.
The General Director of the Municipal Youth Institute, Ernesto León Villanueva, said they will continue to promote youth participation to raise awareness about the ecological damage caused by waste in our environment.
“We must reiterate our call to the general population and our visitors to avoid leaving trash on the beaches. This poses a risk to the environment and the seas, as it can lead to the death of marine species,” he said. Approximately 70 people participated in the Wednesday beach clean.
