GraceKennedy Foundation Mobilises Over 700 Volunteers to Remove over 7,000 KG of Waste from the Kingston Harbour

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF), in collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup and Clean Harbours Jamaica, through the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project (KHCP), hosted a beach cleanup at Sirgany Beach in Kingston, in recognition of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day. Over 360 volunteers from universities, the public and private sector, and multilateral organisations, participated in the cleanup, which removed over 3,370 kilogrammes of waste from the coastline. The ICC Day effort followed closely on the heels of GKF’s annual beach cleanup, which took place at Gunboat Beach in Kingston on September 14, 2024. Over 370 volunteers, including 100 GraceKennedy (GK) team members and their families, alongside high school and university students, successfully removed 3,926 kilogrammes of waste from the beach. Together, the ICC Day and GKF annual beach cleanup activities removed 7,296 kilogrammes of waste from the Kingston Harbour coastline.

Tamara Reynolds, Environmental Warden for the KHCP, spoke about the project’s ongoing community engagement efforts, and highlighted positive shifts in public awareness and action regarding waste management.

Reynolds explained, "Since the launch of the KHCP, we have been raising public awareness about recycling, reusing, and protecting the environment. Our efforts go beyond just ICC Day—this is an ongoing mission. As citizens, it’s our responsibility to care for the environment, remembering that our actions on land can harm marine life. Everyone can play a part in preventing waste from entering our gullies and our ocean."

Since 2022, the KHCP has played a critical role in reducing pollution in Kingston Harbour, removing over 2.1 million kilogrammes of waste through cleanups and the use of innovative waste-trapping technology at the mouths of seven gullies that flow into the harbour. GKF, as the facilitator of the KHCP, manages all outreach activities and stakeholder engagement.

Crystal-Gayle Williams, Acting Operations Manager of GKF, emphasized GK's commitment to both community and environmental sustainability, “Our efforts today are not just about cleaning up; they reflect our responsibility to protect the environment and preserve the resources we depend on for future generations. By cleaning Kingston Harbour coastline —GK’s home for over 100 years—we’re not only taking care of our surroundings but also leading by example in sustainable practices for our industry and the wider community." In addition to the KHCP, GKF also manages other environmental sustainability initiatives on behalf of GK and has hosted ICC Day activities along the Kingston Harbour coastline since 2015. Through these ongoing initiatives, GKF remains focused on making a lasting impact by fostering environmental stewardship and ensuring the protection of Kingston Harbour for generations to come.