National

Transforming Coastal Waste Into Environmental Treasure

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In recent days, Montagu Beach has been hit with an unusually heavy surge of seaweed, part of the same wave affecting coastlines across the Southern Caribbean. Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority crews moved in to clear the buildup, but instead of discarding it, they began mixing the seaweed with soil to create compost for plants.

Published

1 month ago

September 3, 2026

Evlynn Ferguson

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In recent days, Montagu Beach has been hit with an unusually heavy surge of seaweed, part of the same wave affecting coastlines across the Southern Caribbean.

Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority crews moved in to clear the buildup, but instead of discarding it, they began mixing the seaweed with soil to create compost for plants.

It’s the latest step in a year‑long push to restore beaches, from Goodman’s Bay to South Beach.

It’s about more than clearing the shoreline, it’s about repurposing coastal waste for sustainability, turning what was once a nuisance into a resource.

Green Waste and Recycling Management Representative, Ralph Burrows, says the material carries qualities that make it especially valuable for farming and soil enrichment. 

Ralph Burrows – Representative, Green Waste and Recycling Management

“It‘s similar to coconut, so it holds water long enough to give plants some saturation, nutrients, but it doesn’t hurt, nor harm…”

Burrows also explains how the soil is processed.

Ralph Burrows – Representative, Green Waste and Recycling Management

“First off, workers go in and separate, then you would have the bobcats, tobaccos, they would now create stock plans. From there, they would transfer over to the leading area. After that, they would then decide and make decisions, whether the material is clean enough, put it in the machine, run it through, double check…”

Also present at today’s exercise was Executive Chairman Jamahl Strachan, who says this cleanup isn’t just about removing what washes ashore, it’s about showing how waste can be turned into something with value.

Jamahl Strachan – Executive Chairman, Public Park and Beaches Authority

“What your seeing today is a major response to not only clearing the beach, but for the first time ever, a conversion and transformation to a recycled, usable end product, and that would be mulch and compost for final use to agriculture, farmers, and just regularly around The Bahamas.”