Contact: Jennifer Hall, , phone: 302-739-9064 , e-mail: jennifer.hall@de.state.us
 

Delaware Coastal Cleanup Still Needs Volunteers

Cleanup Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16

What do an ice skate, exercise bike, washing machine and toilet plunger have in common? No, this isn’t the start to a bad joke. All of these items were found on Delaware’s beaches last year during the Coastal Cleanup.

This year the cleanup will be on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. This is the 20th year Delaware is participating in the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines and lakes by volunteers.

A key component of Coastal Cleanup is the volunteers and we need a lot of them! The cleanup spans the state’s 97-mile eastern coastline and includes river and ocean shorelines as well as wetland and watershed areas. This year more than 49 sites, which cover New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, are being targeted.

Everyone from youth groups and businesses to families and individuals are encouraged to volunteer. You can register online at www.dnrec.state.de.us. On the right-hand side of the page you will see a button that says “Coastal Cleanup Signup,” which will take you to the cleanup’s homepage. You can also register over the phone by calling Jennifer Hall, Coastal Cleanup Coordinator, at (302) 739-9902.

When volunteers report to their site, they are given data cards to record the number and type of trash they pick up. This information tells us what kind of activities produce the trash and where we can focus our attention when it comes to creating policy.

Last year almost 12,000 pounds of trash were collected. Cigarettes were the number one item collected; volunteers picked up 15,351 cigarette butts! Some other interesting items picked up were a shopping cart, keys, furniture and a cell phone.

For more information, please call Jennifer Hall, (302) 739-9064 or go to the “Coastal Cleanup Signup” link on DNREC’s web page, www.dnrec.state.de.us.
 

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