MIAMI – This week on Don’t Trash Our Treasure, Local 10 brings an update on “Leave No Trace,” a campaign launched by the city of Miami last year to try and get boaters, and all who visit the Biscayne Bay spoil islands, to pick up the trash they make and throw it away back on land.
After a rough start, with the city even forced to close the islands, is this new strategy working?
Just before sunset on Sunday, Local 10 News’ Louis Aguirre and his crew arrived at Pace Picnic, a popular Biscayne Bay Spoil Island, joined by Salty Miami charter captain Juan Pablo Ortega and eco-activist Dave Doebler, who are both very concerned about how boaters have traditionally treated the treasured resources.
“Unfortunately, in the past, people have shown they just don’t care, coming for the fun and leaving trash behind,” said Ortega.
But what our Local 10 crew found this time surprised everyone.
The crew caught people in the act, packing up their trash and bringing it back on their boats, leaving little trace behind.
“We are taking better care,” said boater Sabrina Suarez. “We bring a garbage bag, we collect our stuff, you know what I mean? We just don’t throw stuff out.”
For years, Local 10 has been documenting how often the islands would be left completely desecrated with pollution by those who use them, leaving waste bins overflowing and mounds of garbage scattered everywhere, with debris flowing out onto the shoreline and into the water.
To address the growing crisis, last year the city of Miami activated its Leave No Trace campaign, putting up signs and removing all garbage cans on the 11 islands it manages, mandating all visitors to pack up and remove all waste they make and dispose of it back on land.
The initial results were disastrous, with a colossal mess left behind, forcing the city to temporarily close the islands for two months to make sure everyone understood the new rules.
Well, what a difference a year makes.
Aside from the occasional rogue can, this island is looking pretty clean.
In a year’s time, it looks like the signage, which is now bilingual, and removing the garbage cans has proved pretty effective.
“I think it was an obvious need to have a multilingual sign,” said Doebler. “We have people from around the world coming, and so we have to be able to communicate with people in every language.”
The message was apparently received loud and clear. The crew even saw that with boaters at nearby Willis Island.
“Where do you guys throw away your trash?” asked Aguirre.
“We bring it back on the boat and we throw it away later,” the boater replied in Spanish.
And while the crew did see more trash bags there, those they spoke with said they were taking the garbage back home.
Still, Ortega says that’s not happening all the time.
“They do leave a trace and it’s not a small trace,” he said.
Recently video captured messes left behind on Dinner Key Island and Morningside Picnic Island.
“Maybe they are under the assumption that the city is still picking trash up,” said Ortega.
Overall, officials with the city of Miami say the campaign is working.
“(Boaters) want to behave better,” said Miami Waterfront Park Manager Yohermo Echeverria. “They want to do their part. They’re seeing that the islands are somewhat cleaner now, nowadays, because of the Leave No Trace policy, and they want to continue seeing their islands clean.”
This year, the city received a $40,000 grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District to help maintain both Pace Picnic and Willis Island. The city now sends contractors out once a week to pick up whatever trash is left behind, and the difference is noticeable.
“We see it when we go visit the island during the week,” said Echeverria. “We see how there’s less trash absolutely.”
Still, both city officials and eco-activists alike recognize there is room for improvement and that more education is needed because there is so much at stake.
“I want my kids, and I want your kids, to enjoy this, so we better get our act together,” said Ortega.
The city of Miami also credits the police marine patrol with helping them maintain order on the islands, but eco-activists say park rangers on the islands is what’s needed.
City officials confirmed they are looking into that optio, and are also looking into increasing trash bins and dumpsters at city boat ramps to encourage boaters to pack up their trash and throw it away on land.