An Aruban who has been living abroad for many years returned to the island this summer for vacation. What should have been a joyful homecoming turned into a moment of disappointment when he noticed the growing trash problem around key tourist areas.
He said he felt embarrassed walking through spots that many visitors pass on their way to Hooiberg and the Indian Rock Garden. Instead of clean paths, he found black garbage bags scattered along the route, a sight that left him with a deep sense of shame.
The problem was especially visible near the back of Hooiberg, where paths and trails lead to the stairway used by hundreds of people every week. According to him, it wasn’t just random litter. Many garbage bags intentionally left there had then been torn open, likely by stray dogs searching for food, leaving garbage strewn across the area.
This issue has worsened since the closure of the Parkietenbos dump. Without that disposal site, the amount of illegal dumping in different parts of the island has clearly increased.
He stressed the need for a proper study or investigation into why this situation has grown so severe, especially since there are options for disposing of trash responsibly rather than abandoning it on the streets and paths.
The sight of garbage in such a visible and heavily visited area serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect Aruba’s natural landmarks and keep them clean for both residents and tourists.
