ICC Volunteers Clean Up Coastal Rhode Island

Volunteers from all over Rhode Island visited more than 80 beaches armed with garbage bags and data sheets to clean and record data for the 29th International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) on Saturday, Sept. 20.

In ICC’s 29 years, millions of volunteers have picked up more than 175 million pounds of trash from about 340,000 miles of shoreline around the world.

Save The Bay is the Rhode Island Coordinator for ICC and recruited for the state-wide efforts.

“Since Save The Bay’s founding in 1970 the health of Rhode Island’s waters have improved dramatically and cleanups are a part of that,” says Coordinator July Lewis. “Save The Bay’s shoreline cleanup program has had a tremendous impact on our shoreline, making the waterfront safer and more attractive for humans and wildlife alike.”

Lewis expects approximately 20,000 or more pounds of trash from this year’s efforts with cleanups continuing into October.

“We are so happy with the turnout at this year’s ICC,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see Rhode Islanders from Westerly to Providence to Little Compton taking action to clean up the shoreline in their own communities, and to know that we are united with 650,000 people around the world doing the same thing. It’s a great feeling, and it really does make a difference. “

According to a press release, not only do the volunteers improve the health of the Bay by cleaning up so much trash and debris, but they tally all the information so the Ocean Conservancy can build reports based on the surprising finds, highlighting them in ways that will resonate with the general public.

Findings from this cleanup so far include a string of Christmas lights, tires, skateboard wheels, a spider ring and 29 miniature liquor bottles placed next to an Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlet.

The cleanups featured support from local businesses and corporations offering financial support and volunteer teams who participate in cleanups and often take ownership of a cleanup site. Current sponsors include Washington Trust, DuPont, Hemenway’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar, Dominion, Stop & Shop, Denali Wakefield, WalMart, Liberty Mutual, REI, CVS and WPRI. Other ICC supporters include Little Rhody Foods, Concordia Manufacturing, LLC, Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island, Matunuck Beach Properties Inc. Roy Carpenters Beach, Bridge Restaurants and Bar, Legal Seafood, Gregory’s Optical, Jamestown Fitness Center, North Sails, Galilies Restaurant, and Davitt Design Build, Inc.

Learn how to get involved with the ICC and Save The Bay.

Photo courtesy of Save The Bay.