5,000 Pounds of Trash Removed from Delaware Beaches by Volunteers
STATE OF DE - On September 13, over 950 volunteers gathered for the 38th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, an event organized by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). The three-hour cleanup took place at more than 45 locations, from Fenwick Island to Battery Park.
Volunteers, including individuals, families, and community groups, successfully removed 5,121 pounds of trash from Delaware's shorelines, wetlands, and waterways. This year's collection marks a significant increase of 3,000 pounds compared to the previous year, despite similar participation numbers.
"This annual event brings together neighbors and visitors willing to put a few hours into protecting our beautiful coastline, with all those individual acts adding up to a significant result," said DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson. "Taking more than 2 tons of trash off the beach - much of it one bit of plastic at a time - shows the true power of collective action."
Secretary Patterson, alongside Senator Kyra Hoffner and Senator Stephanie Hansen, participated in the cleanup at Big Stone Beach. The most common items found were cigarette butts, food wrappers, and bottle caps. Larger discoveries included a car exhaust, other car parts, and a bean bag chair.
The data collected by volunteers is used to understand the types of debris affecting Delaware's coast and helps inform state litter reduction efforts. These findings are also shared with the International Ocean Conservancy's Coastal Cleanup database, contributing to global research on marine pollution.
"It has been a wonderful experience to be involved with coastal cleanup for 20 years," said Jennifer Pongratz, a DNREC environmental scientist and a longtime Coastal Cleanup committee member. "I love getting to see the same volunteers year after year that return to their favorite spots to give back in their community, as well as newcomers to the cleanup who get to experience the joy of this act of service for the first time."
DNREC encourages the public to continue these efforts year-round by carrying out what they bring in, picking up litter, and recycling correctly.
Further details, including a results dashboard and information about next year's event, will be made available on the DNREC's Coastal Cleanup webpage.
