What Grows On in Rhode Island News

International Coastal Cleanup ~ September 20, 2008

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August 20, 2008                     Contact:  Eugenia Marks, July Lewis
Release:  Immediately                                                        949-5454

Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s
International Coastal Cleanup
Local Cleanup Mirrors Worldwide Effort

    The morning of Saturday, September 20 will find more than 1,500 volunteers, organized by Audubon Society of Rhode Island, documenting and cleaning up trash at more than 80 sites along the shores of the state as part of the International Coastal Cleanup.  Those wishing to volunteer should call 949-5454 to find a convenient location.

    “This annual event not only beautifies our beaches, it makes them safer for wildlife,” said Audubon’s Executive Director Lawrence Taft. “The data collected helps document the problem and gives us a way to take action and raise awareness. Real numbers carry a lot more weight than saying ‘there’s a lot of litter out there’.”

    Audubon Society of Rhode Island has led the International Coastal Cleanup for Rhode Island since 1985, beginning with five sites.  This year, 83 site cleanups have been organized to date.  More than 1,500 volunteers are expected to turn out on September 20.  Audubon organizes and educates the volunteers, provides T-shirts, manages the data gathered by the volunteers, and coordinates with The Ocean Conservancy, the international director for the project.

    Citizens donating 3 hours of a weekend morning contribute valuable information as they tally each piece of trash picked up.  The data provides background for policy decisions on issues such as beach smoking, recycling, and fisheries and wildlife management.

    Local “beach captains” will manage cleanups around the state, providing instruction for data collection, distributing T-shirts and stacking the resulting trash.  These volunteers encourage local participation by posting notices and speaking with local media.  College professors, scout leaders, corporate managers, and interested citizens are all part of the team of volunteers.  Their efforts are key to the success of the project.  [List of local beach captains]

    Plastics and other trash in the aquatic environment may entangle or cause digestive disorders for wildlife.  Marine turtles mistake plastic bags as jellyfish, their predominant food.  Whales become entangled in derelict line and netting, and baleen whales often swallow floating plastics with food items strained through the baleen.  Birds eat cigarette filters and become entangled in various plastics.

    The 2008 International Coastal Cleanup in Rhode Island is sponsored by ABC 6, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., Dunkin’ Donuts, Fidelity Investments, GEM Plumbing & Heating, National Grid, RI Bridge & Turnpike Authority, Washington Trust, and RI Mobile Sportsfishermen.
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International Coastal Cleanup ~ 2007 RI Report Released

M  E  D  I  A     R  E  L  E  A  S  E

August 28, 2008                     Contact:  Eugenia Marks, July Lewis
Release:  Immediately                                                        949-5454

Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s
International Coastal Cleanup
2007 report released; volunteers needed for 2008

    Audubon Society of Rhode Island, in preparation for International Coastal Cleanup 2008, announces the results of the 2007 cleanup, published by the Ocean Conservancy, international sponsor of this annual event. The result is a comprehensive tally of the trash left on our local shores, as counted by the 1,472 cleanup volunteers.

“In 2007, cigarette butts were once again the number one item collected in Rhode Island,” says Lawrence Taft, Audubon’s Executive Director. “Food wrappers and containers were next. These were the top two items collected worldwide as well.  Audubon uses the data from the Coastal Clean-up to help support campaigns such as smoke-free beaches as well as other campaigns regarding trash in our state.”
(Editor’s note: Total debris tallies from the Ocean Conservancy are available at http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/DocServer/ICC_AR07.pdf?docID=3741 or can be emailed upon request).

In addition to using the data from the cleanup for policy work, Audubon staff encourages volunteerism by pointing out the usefulness of the painstaking task of counting each cigarette butt, as well as the other trash.  Knowing the volume of debris in certain categories also helps in educating the public about the impact their carelessness may have.

“Some kinds of trash are more dangerous than others,” says Eugenia Marks, Audubon’s Policy Director. “Monofilament fishing line is especially treacherous. Animals easily get tangled in it, and it’s very strong stuff so they can’t break free. We found 1,779 pieces of it on the 2007 count. Plastic bags are a hazard to sea turtles which mistake them for jellyfish, and last year there were 6,473 bags collected. These numbers are a reminder that everyone needs to pitch in and keep trash from entering the marine environment.”

    The 2007 results show that Rhode Islanders are heeding that message. Despite rainy weather, 1,472 volunteers participated last year, cleaning 17,048 pounds of trash off 64 miles of shoreline. Volunteers described the satisfaction of making a visible difference, as well as knowing that the data they collected would be used in policy decisions on issues such as beach smoking, recycling, and fisheries and wildlife management.

“The educational aspect of the cleanup is just as important as the data collecting and trash pickup,” says Steve Sheeky, last year’s volunteer cleanup leader at Second Beach, Middletown. “Many people don't give a second thought about tossing that plastic wrapper or flicking that cigarette butt. But when they see people giving their time and energy into caring for the beach that can make them think about where litter goes.  Most people don't relish the thought of being part of the problem.”

The 2008 International Coastal Cleanup takes place on Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. -noon. To volunteer, contact The Audubon Society of Rhode Island at 401-949-5454 or [email protected] to find a convenient beach.  For a list of beach captions and locations, visit http://www.asri.org/general-advocacy-info/audubon-society-of-rhode-island-beach-cleanups.html.

    The 2008 International Coastal Cleanup in Rhode Island is sponsored by ABC 6, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., Dunkin’ Donuts, Fidelity Investments, GEM Plumbing & Heating, National Grid, R.I. Bridge & Turnpike Authority, Washington Trust, and R.I. Mobile Sportsfishermen.
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