Coastal Cleanup collects and records trash
Volunteer trash collectors “littered” Fort Myers Beach Saturday morning during the local version of National Coastal Cleanup. Members of the Beach Pilot Club coordinated the 22nd annual event with a near record turnout for the sign-in held in the parking lot of Beach Elementary School.
Keep Lee County Beautiful representatives were also on hand and sponsored the club. The County hosted the most volunteers ever for the Coastal Cleanup.
“We had possibly 150-200 people waiting for us between 8 and 9 a.m. when we arrived to set up, and the sign-up started at 9 a.m.” said Alicia Steinhagen of the Beach Pilot Club. “The Keep Lee County Beautiful Web site said they were expecting 300 for the morning.”
Among those waiting in line were 30 members of the Fort Myers Interact Club.
“We’re a service-based club which goes out into the community and does service projects,” said Ester Kang, student at Fort Myers High and a representative of the interact club. “We’re excited to help.”
The Coastal Cleanup, an event held throughout America in an attempt to keep the coastline free of debris, is the only cleanup where trash is collected and recorded. Data cards are sent to the Ocean Conservancy where the information is used in the development of new environmental protection acts. The data cards are designed to have groups of four working together, three to collect litter and debris and one to record the findings.
Local merchants helped by supplying lunch items for the volunteers and two gift certificates were handed out for extra efforts. Pietro’s Pizzeria and the Beach Pilot Club combined to supply pizzas; Topp’s Supermarket gave ice; and Yucatan Beach Stand & Grill donated two $25 gift certificates to the groups who collected the most trash and most unusual item.
“This was a real cooperative effort of our community for their coastal coastline,” said Alice Plaatje of the Beach Pilots.
After the cleanup, the local Pilot Club estimated 300 volunteers who collected roughly 900 pounds of trash. The gift certificates were awarded to the Fort Myers Interact Club for hauling in close to 93 pounds, and Edison State College’s Andre Willis, who brought back a marine toilet and water pump, for the most unusual item.
The Lee County numbers included 1,186 volunteers at 11 sites who amassed 3,600 pounds of trash and, unfortunately, one dead manatee.
“This was the largest amount of volunteers for this particular cause,” said Trish Fancher. “It did show a slight improvement regarding litter on the beaches from last year because we had more volunteers who collected less trash. Perhaps the message is finally getting out and people are becoming more aware of their environment.”
Special thanks also goes out to several Lee County sponsors who gave to the 2009 cleanup effort. They include Waste Pro; Veolia Environmental Services; Coca Cola; Town of Fort Myers Beach; Outrigger Beach Resort; SunStream Hotels and Resorts; Lee County Parks & Recreation, Nelson Marine; Schnapper’s Hots; Little Caesar’s Pizza at 11600 Gladiolus Dr.; Lee County Department of Solid Waste; DEX; Adventures in Paradise; and South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island.