Beach cleanup goes after the dirty dozen

Last year in the United States, nearly 175,000 volunteers cleaned up more than 3 million pounds of trash at more than 3,100 sites along close to 7,100 miles of coastline.

September 8, 1998
Webposted at 4:30 PM EDT

By Environmental News Network staff

(ENN) -- The Center for Marine Conservation is gathering forces for a search and attack mission on the dirty dozen of marine debris. The CMC's 13th annual International Coastal Cleanup, which takes place on the world's beaches, is scheduled for Sept. 19.

The dirty dozen -- the items most commonly collected in the U.S. cleanup -- include things like cigarette butts, plastic bottles, straws and metal bottle caps.

"The responsibility for this worldwide problem does not belong solely to shipping companies, fishing fleets and governments. Ultimately, someone had to throw that trash overboard, into the street, down the toilet or into the storm drain. People are the problem, but through the International Coastal Cleanup, people are also the solution," said Roger E. McManus, president of CMC.

Last year in the United States, nearly 175,000 volunteers cleaned up more than 3 million pounds of trash at more than 3,100 sites along close to 7,100 miles of coastline. Car parts, tires, glass and plastic bottles, lumber, syringes, fishing nets, fishing line and fluorescent light tubes were just some of the debris retrieved by the volunteers. Volunteers in 22 states also found seabirds, otters, crabs, fish, seals and turtles that had died after becoming entangled in marine debris.

The dirty dozen is a harsh reminder that most marine debris is not exotic or difficult to dispose of.

This year, thousands of Army volunteers and their families from more than 200 military installations around the world are expected to join more than 350,000 citizens worldwide who will pick up millions of pounds of debris from more than 4,500 beaches, lakeshores, river banks, and even underwater sites. The cleanup will involve volunteers in 53 U.S. states and territories and more than 80 countries.

"The Army's participation in this year's International Coastal Cleanup represents the single largest influx of volunteers from one organization that the Cleanup has ever had," McManus said in making the announcement. "We are delighted to welcome the Army aboard."

"Since the United Nations has designated 1998 as the Year of the Ocean, this is a great time for Army volunteers to learn about and participate in the International Coastal Cleanup," added Col. Jim Dries, director of Army environmental programs.

"The dirty dozen is a harsh reminder that most marine debris is not exotic or difficult to dispose of," said McManus. "If all the bottles, cans, bags, caps, straws and cigarette butts found in the 1997 cleanup had been recycled or discarded into a trash bin, our beaches, rivers and lakes would be cleaner by more than 60 percent."

The first CMC cleanup took place in 1986, when 2,800 people removed trash along 122 miles of Texas shoreline. The cleanup mission evolved to include removing debris from inland beaches, shorelines and waterways as well as underwater areas; collecting data on the types and amount of debris; educating citizens about the problem and using the information collected to support policies and legislation that protect marine wildlife and habitat. The cleanup went national in 1988, and became an international event in 1989 when Mexico and Canada joined the effort.

The International Coastal Cleanup has grown every year since its inception, due not only to its many citizen volunteers, but to financial and marketing support provided by major corporate donors.

Those interested in joining this year's cleanup should call the Center for Marine Conservation at (800)CMC-BEACH or visit CMC's web site at www.cmc-ocean.org to learn the location of a local cleanup event.

Copyright 1998, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved