ORANJESTAD – Aruba begins the second edition of its Cuida Aruba campaign Friday, bringing government agencies, businesses, schools, community organizations and volunteers together for two days of cleanup activities across the island.
The campaign takes place August 28 and 29 and combines environmental cleanup with preparations for the rainy season and possible emergencies.
Friday's activities are primarily centered on organized volunteer projects involving companies, hotels, schools, scouting organizations, youth groups and other community organizations.
Saturday will shift the focus toward residents, who are being encouraged to clean their homes, neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
Prime Minister Mike Eman said the first Cuida Aruba campaign demonstrated that cooperation between government, businesses and residents can produce concrete results for the island.
Waste company Serlimar is expanding its operational capacity during the campaign by deploying additional employees and waste containers.
Aruba’s Department of Public Works is also providing heavy equipment to clear canals, roadsides and other locations requiring specialized machinery. Preparing drainage areas is particularly important ahead of periods of heavier rainfall.
For Saturday's National Cuida Aruba Day, the government has established six strategic waste collection locations across the island.
The sites will operate between 7:00 a.m. and noon in San Nicolas, Pos Chikito/Burubundo, Barcadera, Santa Cruz, Oranjestad and Tanki Leendert.
Unlike the first edition, organizers decided to concentrate waste collection at fewer locations.
According to the government, operating a larger number of collection points during the previous campaign placed pressure on trucks responsible for emptying containers and returning them to service. Concentrating operations at six sites is expected to improve waste transportation and reduce delays.
Residents are also being encouraged to separate different types of waste at home before bringing it to the collection points, which authorities say should accelerate unloading and processing.
The government describes Cuida Aruba as more than a temporary cleanup campaign, saying the initiative is intended to promote shared responsibility among government, businesses and residents for maintaining the island and preparing communities for emergencies.