Blacktip Island’s ever-expanding landfill will be the site of Saturday’s Dump Dive scavenger hunt. (photo courtesy of Wade Soote)
The Blacktip Island Department of Environmental Health will host its inaugural Dump Dive scavenger hunt Saturday at the island’s landfill as part of an effort to reduce waste on the small Caribbean island.
“Folks need to realize a small island isn’t the place for throw-away culture,” landfill supervisor Wade Soote said. “The dump’s the highest point on Blacktip, and it’s growing every day. We only have so much space for trash. The scavenger hunt’ll get folks out to the dump, show them first-hand what a predicament we’re in.
“We won’t hand out the list of items to look for until the day of the event, to keep folks from scouting or staging things to find,” Soote said. “We’re encouraging folks of all ages to participate, to really get families to turn out. Sure, adults can shove bigger items out of the way, but that’s more than balanced out by kids being able to slip into small spaces.”
Hunt organizers hope to raise reuse and recycling awareness.
“Some of the things on the list of things to find—an electric toothbrush, half a kayak paddle, a condemned scuba cylinder—can easily be repurposed,” Coryl Bleeching said. “If we can get even one person to say, ‘Hey! This is still good! I can use this for something!’ we’ve done our jobs.”
Some island residents raised privacy concerns about the hunt.
“This is a gossipy, nosey island at heart,” Peachy Bottoms said. “People already poke through the dump, looking for dirt on their neighbors. Now, this scavenger hunt’s the perfect cover for digging deeper through peoples’ garbage to find personal details and embarrassing stuff. It’s a Nosey Parker’s dream come true.”
Island health officials also questioned the activity.
“All that stuff’s in the dump for a reason,” island nurse Marissa Graysby said. “There’s who know what kinds of pathogens there, and people rooting through will just expose them to all that. I’m ordering all kinds of extra antibiotics and hoping it’s enough.”
The DEH is erecting temporary stands set up for spectators.
“Even if they’re not participating, we want as many folks on hand to witness it,” Soote said. “We’re hoping this becomes an annual island spectacle, with live music, food stands, the whole shebang.”
Dump Dive t-shirts will be available for purchase at the landfill. Winners will be allowed to keep whatever they find.
The Blacktip Times 