Save the Date! International Coastal Cleanup will be September 20

Each year, over 300,000 people from more than 90 nations throughout the world come together on the third Saturday in September to be a part of the International Coastal Cleanup, sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy, to clean up litter and marine debris. On Saturday,September 20, 2008, Keep Martin Beautiful and more than 1,500 volunteers representing over 30 different teams will join forces to clean up shores, rivers, beaches and other waterways. Participating teams include civic groups, businesses, families, county and city personnel, and community activists.

"It's the volunteer participation throughout Martin County that makes it all happen - boaters, divers and fishermen combining forces with everyone on land," said Butch Olson, Co-Chair of the event and President of the Port Salerno Commercial Fishing Dock Authority. "When you're out there with 1500 other Martin County citizens, tangibly making a difference together, it is truly an amazing feeling."

"Working in Marine Law Enforcement, I see the negative impacts of waste on our waterways. Human fingerprints are on every piece of trash we find in the ocean, so responsible prevention of these activities is the crucial component, and not just during cleanups but year-round, too," explained Sgt. Bruce Newbold, of the Martin County Sheriff's Office and Co-Chair of the Cleanup. "One of the goals of the International Coastal Cleanup is changing human behavior, which is vital to solving pollution problems that plague the world's oceans and waterways."

What Volunteers Need to Know

• The International Coastal Cleanup targets waterways throughout Martin County, from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean and everything in between.
• Pre-registration is required to ensure volunteers are assigned to those areas that are in most need of a clean up.
• Participants will be provided with cleanup supplies as well as a complimentary T-shirt (while supplies last).
• Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and bring work gloves.
• A volunteer celebration event will be held afterwards.

Fun Facts

Last year, we picked up:

• 23,000 cigarette butts
• 5,000 beverage containers
• Most unusual items - a melting stick of butter and a vintage Jimmy Hendricks patch!

Sponsorship Opportunities

KMB appreciates the many businesses that provide financial support to defray the costs associated with coordinating the participation in an international event. There are many levels and types of sponsorships, and in-kind donations of food and beverage for volunteers is always appreciated. Since the International Coastal Cleanup is a highly visible event, sponsors enjoy extensive event press and advertising. For more information, contact Keep Martin Beautiful at 781-1222 or by email at info@keepmartinbeautiful.org.

The Cleanup isn't just about picking up trash and debris. Cleanup volunteers also collect information about the items they find, and this data is given to The Ocean Conservancy. The Ocean Conservancy then compiles and studies the data in order to learn more about the global debris problem, educate the public, and find solutions.