International Coastal Cleanup – Sept 30, Kingman Island
It’s time to grab the sunscreen, put on your wading shoes, and volunteer for the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). The aim of the ICC is to collect as much trash as possible along our coasts and from the waterways that feed into the ocean so they can be cleaner and healthier for both animals and humans. For nearly four decades, the Ocean Conservancy has encouraged communities worldwide to participate in the ICC.
Each year millions of metric tons of plastic enter aquatic environments around the world. The Ocean Conservancy and NOAA are working hard to reduce these numbers. Food wrappers, bottles, plates, and other plastic debris pose threats to wildlife that eat or become entangled in our waste, to habitats that are smothered by debris, and to the economies of coastal communities dependent on tourism. This year, the ICC will take place throughout September, with the ICC’s DC flagship event collecting trash near the Anacostia River. Folks will gather on Saturday, September 30, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Kingman Island in Washington, D.C.
Kingman Island was created more than a century ago from the dredging of the Anacostia and is now an oasis for birds and other wildlife in our nation’s capital. If you want to help clear Kingman Island of trash, please register here.
Lastly, in an effort to track our collective impact, you may use the Clean Swell app to gather data during the ICC. Recording the number of items you collect is gratifying and a good reminder that our individual efforts when combined with those of thousands of other volunteers can make a difference.
