Save The Bay to offer beach cleanup leader training for 2017 International Coastal Cleanup
International Coastal Cleanup is right around the corner, and Save The Bay is recruiting cleanup leaders now for the global event. Save The Bay will hold a beach clean-up leader training on Saturday, August 5, from 10???11:30 a.m., at 10 Save The Bay Drive in 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.
???While our beautiful shoreline is one of our state???s greatest treasures, it is under constant threat from litter either left on beaches or washing ashore,??? said Lewis. ???Leading a cleanup is easy, and one of the best things you can do to fight trash on our beaches.??? The organization is looking for community members, or even small teams, to lead cleanup efforts at both large and small shoreline locations, neighborhood beaches, fishing areas, boat launches and rights-of-way, and favorite hidden spots around the state.
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. Volunteers record the amount, type and location of trash removed from shorelines, and results are published in a global report that includes 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.
Last year, 2,252 community members removed 15,030 pounds of trash from Rhode Island???s shores. Commonly found trash items included cigarette butts and plastic items, such as bottles, bags, and straws, which threaten the health of marine animals that mistake these items for food. Plastics, which are continually deposited in oceans and waterways, are of particular concern because they break down in to tiny pieces of microplastics that are ingested by marine life.
???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 that 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. ??For more information about the International Coastal Cleanup, visit http://www.savebay.org/icc.