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COASTSWEEP

The Massachusetts Annual Statewide Beach Cleanup

Volunteers throughout Massachusetts turn out in large numbers each September and October for COASTSWEEP, the statewide coastal cleanup program sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and coordinated by the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI) of the University of Massachusetts Boston.

COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC. Volunteers from all over the world collect marine debris and record the types of trash they collect. This information is then analyzed and used to identify sources of debris and to develop education and policy initiatives to help reduce marine debris globally.

To volunteer for an event, to organize your own cleanup, or to learn more about COASTSWEEP, see the following links:

Cleaning COASTSWEEP

In the last five years (2006-2010) of COASTSWEEP, more than 13,000 volunteers have removed almost 6,500 bags of trash from our shores.  While that is a great achievement, it also means that the COASTSWEEP program used almost 6,500 plastic trash bags and tens of thousands disposable gloves during that time. So … this year COASTSWEEP is trying something new.  We are asking volunteers and coordinators to help us reduce the environmental impacts of the cleanups.

Here are some ideas that local coordinators and volunteers should consider as they plan for/participate in their cleanups:

  • Rather than provide bottles of water and cans of soda for your volunteers, ask them to bring their own refreshments in reusable bottles.
  • If you’re serving food to your volunteers, look into options with minimal packaging and use recyclable items when possible .
  • Recycle the cans, bottles, cardboard, and other appropriate items found or used during your cleanup event.
  • Rather than use a big trash bag for each team of volunteers, ask people to bring a bucket, a reusable shopping bag, a mesh bag or even a small plastic grocery bag from home.  Volunteers can fill those containers and empty them in the larger centrally located COASTSWEEP trash bags or other trash cans.
  • Encourage your volunteers to bring reusable gloves (such as gardening gloves) to the event so that you don’t have to use disposable rubber gloves.
  • If possible, bike, carpool, or use public transportation to get to your event.

If you have additional questions or other suggestions as to how to reduce the impact of COASTSWEEP events, contact COASTSWEEP Coordinators, Kristin Uiterwyk or Dennis Leigh at:

COASTSWEEP would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors.