coastal clean up stats

Courtesy of the Ocean Conservancy

 

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 is International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Ocean trash is a serious pollution issue that affects the health of wildlife, people, and local economies. Trash on our shores and in the water increases the destruction and degradation of wildlife, water quality, and and ecosystems.

In partnership with volunteer organizations and individuals from around the world, the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup has been occurring for nearly three decades. This event engages people to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways, idenfity the sources of debris, and change the behaviors that cause the marine debris in the first place. Cleanup volunteers have picked up everything imaginable including cigarette butts, food wrappers, abandoned fishing gear and even automobiles and kichen applicances. People also wetsuit up, and partipate underwater cleanups as well. 

One unique thing that the Ocean Conservancy provides is an item-by-item, location-by-location Ocean Trash Index. This serves as a global snapshot of the marine debris littering waterways and coastlines around the world. 

trash stats

Courtesy of the Ocean Conservancy

SOLVE is the Oregon Coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup. There will be over 100 litter cleanups and restoration projects to choose from across Oregon, including 45 beach cleanup sites scattered along the entire Oregon Coast. Click here to view the entire list of cleanup sites. Note that some of the events will take place different days of September.

Registration Questions? Contact SOLVE:
Kaleen Boyle
Outreach Coordinator
kaleen@solveoregon.org
503-844-9571 x332