Save The Bay is recruiting volunteer site leaders for the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup in Rhode Island. In particular, the organization is looking for community members to locate sites and lead cleanup efforts at small, neighborhood beaches, fishing areas, boat launches and rights-of-way.
The official date of the International Coastal Cleanup is Saturday, September 16, but cleanups held anytime during September or October will be counted as part of the global event.
Save The Bay will hold two site leader trainings on Thursday, July 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 5 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Bay Center, 100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence. Those interested in becoming site leaders are invited to attend either training and should contact July Lewis, Save The Bay’s Volunteer and Internship Manager, at jlewis@savebay.org.
“With over 400 miles of coastline in Rhode Island, clean and accessible shores are one of our state’s greatest treasures. But our shores are under constant threat from trash either left on beaches or washing ashore,” said Lewis. “Leading a cleanup is easy-we’ll show you how. And it is one of the best things you can do to fight trash on our beaches.”
The International Coastal Cleanup, organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Ocean Conservancy and locally by Save The Bay, removes coastal debris from around the world every year. Unique to this cleanup, volunteers record the amount, type and location of trash removed from international shorelines, producing a state- and country-specific Ocean Trash Index. This data-rich report is a crucial reference for policy makers and environmental advocates across the world.
In 2016, 2,252 community members removed 15,030 pounds of trash from Rhode Island’s shores. Local collection efforts contributed to the 18 million pounds of trash removed from the world’s shorelines during last year’s International Coastal Cleanup. The Ocean Conservancy’s full report can be accessed at www.savebay.org.
Commonly found trash items included cigarette butts and plastic items, such as bottles, bags, and straws. Plastics, which are continually deposited in oceans and waterways, are of particular concern because of how long they persist in the environment. Aside from contributing to unsightly shores, plastic materials are a threat to wildlife through ingestion or entanglement.
“Community volunteers play a pivotal role in preserving shorelines for recreation and the health of our oceans. We’re always looking for more people to join the cleanup effort,” Lewis said.
Rhode Island’s International Coastal Cleanup is supported by local businesses and corporations, which offer financial support and volunteer teams. Save The Bay thanks current sponsors - Bank of America, West Hartford, Caster Communications, Strategic Retirement Partners, South County Tourism Council, Matunuck Oyster Bar and MetLife.
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