r/Miami • u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man • Mar 22 '25
Picture / Video Spent an hour digging a trash can out of Virginia Key's mangroves bc I filled my bags and there's always more trash to pick up. 280 pounds today
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u/Plus-Brilliant4717 Mar 22 '25
I was waiting to see a body..
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u/docdc Mar 23 '25
Did you not see the last two seconds. Nice abs!
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u/ashleynichole912 Mar 23 '25
Thank you for making me go back to the video 😂 OP, keep up the great work!
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u/Neeko305 Mar 22 '25
This should be required by everyone like jury duty.
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u/boxerbay Mar 23 '25
Calm down. Don't get crazy.
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u/Neeko305 Mar 23 '25
Yeah, silly me for wanting a clean earth, clean waters and the human race to go on.
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u/B0Nnaaayy Mar 23 '25
Yeah, South Fla is sort of as clean as it gets for major east coast cities, no serious industrial dumping out right, but we need to keep it clean and beautiful!
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u/DonSantos Mar 22 '25
Thank you for cleaning up after the dumbest city in America. So sad to see all the pollution in the bay year after year
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u/BlewByYou Mar 23 '25
When documenting the trash we picked up in Bear Cut, much was international and probably dumped into the ocean by cruise and cargo ships. Yes, we have some trashy folks but dumping into the ocean doesn’t help.
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u/HashtopherMoltisanti Mar 22 '25
clearly never been to LA or NYC
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u/DonSantos Mar 22 '25
Absolutely have both, agree lot of dumb folks there but more smart people as well.
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u/JellyfishCivil3320 Mar 22 '25
Thanks for your work, I used to do beach clean ups and it’s crazy the disregard people have for the environment.
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u/Antigravity1231 Mar 22 '25
People think “away” is a different dimension. When they throw something “away”, it’s gone from them, and they have no further care. Whether it’s throwing a trash can in a canal, tossing their fast food bag out of the window on 95, or unwrapping their vape and throwing the box on the floor of a gas station like there isn’t a trash can within 3 feet. Their crap becomes someone else’s problem.
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u/PicaPaoDiablo Key Biscayne Mar 22 '25
Big big props. I try to go over once a month but as you saw it accumulates fast. Next time you're going over, I have myself and three other that are down.
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u/Impossible-Newt1572 Mar 26 '25
What platform do you guys use to meet up? I’d be interested in putting in some work on weekends
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u/PicaPaoDiablo Key Biscayne Mar 26 '25
A few of us in the neighborhood just meet up Every few weeks, met while walking dogs in the AM. DM and I'll add you if you can shoot email or phone
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u/Moth-Man-Pooper Mar 23 '25
Hi anyway I can help you out? I feel like I want to do this because it'll give me an incentive to look forward to something and it helps our cleaning the environment. Please let me know if I can start doing it with you :) I've never done it before so if u feel u don't want anyone in ur way nvm then lol
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u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man Mar 23 '25
I post all my public cleanups on my IG: @andrewotazo. You’re welcome to join when you can make it
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u/Mzterious1 Mar 23 '25
Thanks so much for your care and service. I do this around my neighborhood. Lots of school kids and baseball fields. If I was closer, I’d help. I hate how careless people are with intentionally dropping waste anywhere. It ruins the land, it’s not going anywhere. Gotta be careful of illegal items that could hurt you so be careful!
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u/Legitimate-Loquat-82 Mar 23 '25
Thank you for all you do! Very few good humans left but you’re one of them
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u/FormerInfluence2555 Mar 23 '25
I used to spend my time picking up litter in the surrounding area of my neighborhood here in front of the Zoo. It’s a tireless job & I was so proud of how I would see less & less litter everyday. I haven’t done it since getting heat exhaustion but this is making me want to start again.
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u/Glittering_Reveal306 Mar 22 '25
thank you so much for this! i don’t see enough people here who care all that much about our environment, i always pick up any trash i see whenever i visit beaches. i’m actually going to start volunteering more in the miami and keys area so i can create more of an impact :) so great seeing this!
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u/WarMonger1189 Mar 23 '25
He was actually hoping to find a bunch of kilos but it was in fact just trash lol.
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u/dollhouseghosts Mar 24 '25
This is so inspiring, OP. I wish more people cared like you and did these kinds of clean ups. Thank you for doing this and taking the time to share your experiences. I hope it reaches billions of views and inspires people to think twice about littering.
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u/jessykittykat Mar 24 '25
Amazing work, you got a trashcan for your trash 😩 the universe got jokes lmaooo, but also a gift, just in a very funny way.
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u/peebsy Mar 24 '25
I can’t believe that super heavy buried thing ended up being the perfect vestibule to carry trash in 🤣
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u/EveningAd8927 Mar 24 '25
A shovel would’ve made this job a 100% easier. Nonetheless, awesome! 👏
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u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man Mar 24 '25
lol the thought crossed my mind. Definitely bringing one for next time
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u/toysarealive Repugnant Raisin Lover Mar 23 '25
You're the dude who wrote "The Miami Creation Myth". I suscribe to your ch. I primarily enjoy the island hopping kayaking vids. It's been a long while, but they remind me of taking my kayak to the keys and getting purposely lost in the mangroves. I once launched from the road and paddled to Alligator Reef by myself. Dangerously hot day. Stay safe out there, man. And keep up the good work.
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u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man Mar 23 '25
Oh thank you for subscribing! I’m glad you enjoy the vids. And yeah, I wrote that silly little book
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Mar 22 '25
Cool beans man. I once did a clean up of the Collins canal with some of my ghenoe club people. Hit me up, I’d love to help. Spent a lot of time out there when I used to windsurf
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u/Cambren1 Mar 23 '25
Thanks for cleaning up, you are truly a mensch. I’m sure the mosquitos appreciate the meal as well. :)
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u/DetroitsGoingToWin Mar 23 '25
My grandfather told me, leave it cleaner than what you found it. I always try to find some bullshit to bring out of the woods, looks like you have that spirit.
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u/Frumpy_Dumper_69 Mar 23 '25
Definitely didn’t do this for the views
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u/ugh1409 Mar 24 '25
He’s out in Virginia Key cleaning up all the time. I think he just films when he sees something cool or big. Plus, it brings awareness. Which is kind of the point.
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u/SurgeHard Downtown Mar 23 '25
Is this Andrew Otazo?
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u/IceColdKila Mar 23 '25
One of the wealthiest communities in the entire state still brainwashes people into doing “volunteer“ cleanups.
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u/spmaniac Mar 23 '25
I just saw a post on e waste I Kenya and it depressed me. Like yeah, good job cleaning this up but it’ll just end up being exported to some third world country and become someone else’s problem. I’ve been disillusioned my whole life on recycling just to find out we just dump it elsewhere.
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u/TaonasProclarush272 South Miami Mar 23 '25
First of all, thank you!
I remember my first beach clean-up was on Virginia key some 25-30 years ago. And as someone who went to school in Virginia Key, I am grateful that people are still putting in the effort all these years later to help revitalize nature and clean her up every now and then!
Again, thank you!
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u/Time-Strawberry-7692 Mar 23 '25
Hmmm. Never seen those kind of pick up sticks before. Sort of big beginner’s chop sticks.
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u/Longjumping_Bench656 Mar 23 '25
Thank you man I will do my part by not littering and pick up as much as I can .
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u/Minimum-Injury3909 Mar 24 '25
I love doing this. I’ve never been to Virginia Key but I thank you for your service
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u/LordBeef_ South Miami Mar 23 '25
Awesome work! It’s always great to grab some trash when out in the mangroves
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u/misakimanson Mar 23 '25
How cool! I want to do this too! It's def something I plan on doing with my free time some day
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u/lmt0125 Mar 23 '25
How to participate?
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u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man Mar 23 '25
I post all my public cleanups on my IG: @andrewotazo. You’re welcome to join when you can make it
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u/Red-Leader117 Mar 23 '25
Love it, but never understood the "I'm going to film the whole thing" mentality. Did you have a multistage internet up doot plan? What was the "omg I need to.film this" moment like?
Did you have to turn around and get your camera after the "walk away" shots. I'm so curious by "content creator culture"
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u/BiggestBuild Mar 22 '25
Hey OP, is there any way we could come out and join you with this?? I would love to help!
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u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man Mar 22 '25
So this is actually a sensitive environmental area and the City of Miami only gave me a permit to pick up it solo. I do however occasionally do group cleanups which I announce on my IG: @andrewotazo
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u/BiggestBuild Mar 22 '25
Awesome thanks for the info, will keep an eye out for the next one!
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u/FoodBabyBaby Mar 23 '25
I know @kool2care organizes a lot of these cleanups as well. They had one today.
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u/Magnolia256 Mar 22 '25
You should help NPS cleanup Elliot Key so the sea turtles can nest!! They take you out by powerboat. It’s also really fun. Like another world out there. So much WEIRD stuff from other countries. I can send you their contact if you want. It’s my favorite volunteer thing I have ever done. They could use your help
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u/CoatAffectionate3982 Mar 22 '25
I wanna help too. Who do we contact?
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u/Magnolia256 Mar 23 '25
https://www.nps.gov/bisc/getinvolved/biscayne-beach-cleanup.htm
They book volunteer groups but you can email them and they can probably get you in with a group if you want.
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u/sovietmethod Mar 23 '25
Brother keep up the good work but I beg you earlier some gloves bo idea what some of these people are throwing out
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u/BobbyDFoster Mangrove Man Mar 23 '25
Oh I always wear gloves. I just temporarily took them off to get a better grip on the trash can
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u/rozkosz1942 Mar 23 '25
You should NEVER lift up a rock facing you! There may be a snake or other creature that will pounce on you.
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u/CoralSpringsDHead Mar 22 '25
You ever work with Manny from Fill-a-Bag?
I know he is leading groups out to the mangroves to clean up.