Apr 22, 2025 - Environment

Earth Day shout out: Local man has removed 15 tons of trash from Miami coastline

Martin Vassolo

Andrew Otazo hauling trash out of Miami's mangrove forests — Andrew Otazo at work. Photos: Courtesy of Otazo

For the past eight years, Andrew Otazo — the comedic writer, publicist and environmentalist — has been hauling away literal tons of trash from Miami's coastal habitats.

For Earth Day, we asked Otazo about his journey cleaning up our ecosystem, which he documents in social media videos. So far, he says he's cleaned up about 15 tons of trash.

His responses were edited for clarity and space

🤔 What made you start?

I simply started doing a job that needed to get done. The mangroves are a keystone ecosystem and they were absolutely brimming with trash, but no one else was working there at the time.

💰 Weirdest thing you've found cleaning up?

A bank robber. He had illegally built a camp in the mangroves and paddled a canoe to Miami Beach, where he robbed a bank before paddling back. SWAT eventually got him.
(Otazo's also found a quinceañera dress, a VR headset and tractor trailer tires, among other discarded items.)

🌴 Where do you focus your efforts?

Crandon Park's Bear Cut Preserve, West Point Mangrove Preserve, the Upper Keys and the Everglades. I'm currently collaborating with the City of Miami on cleaning Virginia Key's North Point Park.

💪 How long do you expect to keep doing these clean-ups?

I'll go as long as there's trash and my limbs stay attached.

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Earth Day shout out: Local man has removed 15 tons of trash from Miami coastline

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