NOAA Takes on Trash at International Coastal Cleanups

SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 — On September 21, the Marine Debris Program and other NOAA partners participated in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup events throughout the United States, including the Pacific Islands and Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other areas.

Person speaking at a lectern outdoors.
Nancy Wallace gives opening remarks at the Kingman Island cleanup. Image credit: NOAA.

At the Washington, D.C. cleanup on Kingman Island, over 1,000 volunteers collected more than 6,000 pounds of trash from the island and the Anacostia River. Volunteers gathered many types of debris such as plastic bottles, plastic foam pieces, cans, tires, large metal scraps, and tarps. Along with other speakers, the Marine Debris Program’s Director, Nancy Wallace, provided opening remarks to the gathered crowd. In her remarks, Nancy described NOAA’s role to combat marine debris, emphasized that marine debris is a man-made problem with real-world solutions, encouraged everyone to get involved, and urged continued public support to help alleviate this global problem.

Following the cleanup, participants entered a contest for the most interesting pieces of trash, with submissions including a futon couch, a bicycle, and a shopping cart!

For additional information, please contact Emma.Tonge@noaa.gov.

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Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:48pm PST