Over 500 people participated in International Coastal Cleanup Day in Mejillones

As part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, the Mejillones community joined a coastal cleanup initiative organized by DIRECTEMAR. The event took place on four beaches (Guanaye, Balneario Municipal, La Rinconada and Camping Militar), and brought together more than 500 volunteers committed to the cause.

It was supported by the Chilean Navy, the Municipality of Mejillones, Fundación Protección Oceánica and several companies, including SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition. The Captain of the Port of Mejillones, Carlos Gotuzzo, commented, “We are grateful for such a large crowd at an activity designed to bring the community closer to the coast and build awareness of the need to take care of the environment, which is a priority for our institution.”

Valesca Valverde, Communities Director for Fundación Protección Oceánica, explained, “Today we worked with various public and private entities and schools to reach different areas in the Mejillones community and commemorate this day. The activity is carried out throughout Chile, but here it also promoted the environmental certification we are pursuing with different schools and support from SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition.”

This initiative takes place in September in over 120 countries to collect garbage and solid waste along coastal areas to raise awareness about ocean pollution and the importance of keeping our coasts clean.

In this context, SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition’s Deputy Manager of Communities commented: “It is very important for our company to take part in opportunities like this, which are in line with two of our values: Sustainability and Challenge. The first value aims to create programs that support environmental stewardship, while the second challenges us to find new ways to further strengthen our community approach.”

At the event, close to 300 students from the María Angélica Elizondo Briceño School, the Julia Herrera Varas School, and the Juan José Latorre Benavente Educational Complex joined the effort to beautify 10 locations along the coastline.