International Coastal Cleanup

On the third Saturday in September, hundreds of thousands of people will descend on beaches, lakes, and streams all over the world to clean trash and debris—on land and under the water. Volunteers of all ages and from every continent will form the largest one-day volunteer event on behalf of clean oceans and waterways—the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Held annually since 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash and debris from the world's beaches and waterways, to identify the sources of debris, and to change the behaviors that cause pollution. In 2015, the annual Cleanup recorded more than 391,000 volunteers from 100 countries. Volunteers combed over 12,400 miles of shorelines and waterways which is equivalent to more than ¾ of the Earth's circumference. ICC volunteers collected 8.22 million pounds of trash; the same weight as 37 blue whales, the Earth's largest living creature.

In the past Cleanups, the “Top Ten” items found from the International Coastal Cleanup were (1) cigarettes/cigarette filters (2) bags/food wrappers; (3) caps, lids; (4) beverage bottles (plastic); (5) cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons; (6) beverage cans, (7) beverage bottles (glass); (8) Bags, (9) Straws, stirrers, (10) Cigar Tips.

Keep Beatrice Beautiful sponsors the local International Coastal Cleanup efforts to help cleanup waterways in Gage County each year. Keep Beatrice Beautiful, Inc. is enlisting the assistance of Girl Scout Troops, Boy Scout Troops, 4-H Clubs, or Church Youth Groups to join the hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who plan to spend a few hours working toward cleaner waterways. Keep Beatrice Beautiful has $50 mini-grants available; trash bags for collection and tallying sheets so that the amount and type of trash can be evaluated to find out the source. When we volunteer with a group of friends, we have the knowledge that we are part of a world-wide event. Our statistics join those of others in far-off places we may never get to visit. That's what volunteerism is all about—having fun and making a difference!”

To register for a ICC clean-up or for further information, please call Keep Beatrice Beautiful at 402-228-4576 or for more information on International Coastal Cleanup activities contact 1-800-262-2322 or www.oceanconservancy.org.