A tidal wave of plastic debris invaded the water and sands of Playa Montesinos, in the Dominican Republic.
The disturbing video was released by Parley for the Oceans, a platform where creators, thinkers, and leaders raise awareness for the destructions of the oceans and collaborate on projects that put an end to their destruction.
Playa Montesinos is an urban beach located near the port of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.
The vast blanket of trash that could easily be spotted from land featured all sorts of plastic items, including bottles, styrofoam food boxes, straws, bags, cans, cups, caps, etc.
Parley for the Oceans immediately started working with the municipal government, public workers, the army, and navy to collect the trash floating in the surf.
The horrendous scenario reminds us of Bali and the waves of trash that recently took over the island's best surf spots. This time, in the Caribbean, the teams spent three days taking 30 tons of plastic out of the water using trucks and heavy machinery.
"Seeing this firsthand is absolutely shocking, but what's worse is that this is not news in Santo Domingo," notes Carmen Danae Chamorro, a member of Parley for the Oceans.
"This situation happens every time it rains heavily, so that's why it is important to shine a light on what has been ignored."
The clean-up operation will continue, but the environmental organization is already working with the local authorities to implement its AIR strategy (Avoid, Intercept, Redesign) island-wide.
The goal of Parley is to educate, communicate, and identify the origins of the problems, and work with policy-makers to improve the island's waste and recycling infrastructure.
Here's why plastic pollution has become a global emergency.