Coastal Cleanup Day Sept. 17 at Hamlin Beach

As part of the International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17, SUNY Brockport Environmental Awareness Network (BEAN) members are organizing a beach cleanup at Hamlin Beach State Park. Area residents are invited to join in the effort Saturday, September 17 at Hamlin Beach (Shelter #4) from 9 a.m. to noon, to clean up one of the area's favorite local beaches. Free breakfast munchies and beverages will be provided. Participants should wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear, and bring work gloves and a clipboard if available.

The International Coastal Cleanup is a world-wide event, with people cleaning beaches and riversides in over 80 countries on the same day. In Monroe County, it is organized by the Rochester Museum and Science Center's Water Education Collaborative (RMSC WEC). Besides collecting garbage and cleaning shorelines, the purpose is also to collect data. Volunteers will be given data cards on which to record each piece of debris as it is picked up. After the cleanup, the data is tabulated by site, county, state, country and world-wide. The final tallies are used to determine the sources and activities generating the debris. This information is then used to educate the public, businesses and industries, and government agencies as to how best to reduce generation of aquatic and marine. The ultimate goal is to prevent pollution by changing behaviors through education, persuasion and legislation, according to organizers.

Last year at Hamlin Beach State Park, 48 volunteers, including BEAN members, collected over 360 pounds of garbage from the park's three miles of shoreline. The most common items were cigarette butts (551), beverage caps and lids (540), and food wrappers/containers (432). Volunteers also collected 307 beverage bottles and cans, 321 unidentifiable pieces of plastic, 186 eating utensils (cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons), 170 straws or stirers, and 128 pieces of styrofoam.

For information and to pre-register for the September 17 clean up go to WEC's website at http://www.rmsc.org/community learning/partners/wec/. Pre-registration is not necessary, but does help plan for food and supplies for volunteers.