The International Coastal Cleanup is just around the corner and we are grabbing our gloves, suiting up, and heading out to clean up our beaches, Great Lakes, and waterways. This annual event, hosted by the Ocean Conservancy and supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), works to bring people together from across the globe to clean up marine debris. Last year’s cleanup was the biggest yet, with over one million volunteers coming together to remove over 10,000 tons of trash. Some of the top 10 items found at the event included cigarettes, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, and for the first time ever, plastic cutlery (forks, knives, and spoons).
The 2019 International Coastal Cleanup is coming up soon on Saturday, September 21, and it’s the perfect time to join #TeamOcean and our team at the MDP to make a difference in your community!