Thank you to everyone who helped to make the 20th anniversary of COASTSWEEP a huge success! While a rainy kick-off date did impact the total number of people who participated this year, volunteers still cleaned over 85 sites, collecting almost 9 tons of debris! Check out the COASTSWEEP results (PDF, 67kb) and the 2007 International Coastal Cleanup Report (PDF, 5.4MB).

One of the highlights of the 20th anniversary was this year's kick-off held at Carson Beach in South Boston. Once in disrepair, Carson Beach is now one of the best beaches around Boston. To celebrate the successful revitalization of this urban oasis, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) teamed up with the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI) to put on a great event. Speakers included EEA Undersecretary Philip Griffiths, State Senator Jack Hart, and Leslie-Ann McGee, the new Director of the Office of Coastal Zone Management. Additionally, the COASTSWEEP kick-off celebrated Bank of America's presentation of a $100,000 check to the Ocean Conservancy's Amelia Montjoy in support of their International Cleanup (of which COASTSWEEP is part).

After the speaking portion of the kick-off, over 100 volunteers took to the beach, collecting an estimated 200 pounds of trash. Special thanks go to the groups who braved the rain to volunteer-including the Bank of America employees, MIT students, and Fay School students. Volunteers also enjoyed free coffee and donuts, donated by Dunkin' Donuts, and potato chips donated by Cape Cod Potato Chips. Lucky raffle winners won prizes including Adidas backpacks and tickets to the New England Aquarium.

Great cleanup events were held elsewhere across the state this fall too, in sizes ranging from 1 to 200 volunteers. Many local coordinators reported that their volunteers not only collected trash, but also set up a recycling effort to make sure that the cans, bottles, and other recyclable items were disposed of properly. What a great idea!

As with years past, the most numerous item found was cigarette filters (over 29,000); followed by food wrappers and food containers (almost 8,300).

Thank you to everyone who sent in data cards. Legal Seafoods has donated gift certificates that we will raffle off to those of you who did send us your data.

This year, COASTSWEEP also ran the first ever COASTSWEEP poster contest. One winner was selected from all entries. She received a pair of tickets to the New England Aquarium, a COASTSWEEP T-shirt, and 2 free "tuitions" to any one of REI's Outdoor School programs. Thanks to all who entered, and thanks to REI and the New England Aquarium for donating such great prizes.

Finally, we wish to say a special thanks to Pauline Westhaver, who dedicated many years to coordinating cleanups, updating the website, and making sure everyone had their supplies. Pauline will be greatly missed, but we wish her luck in her future endeavors!

We are already looking forward to COASTSWEEP 2008, and welcome any suggestions that will help make the program even stronger. Please feel free to send your suggestions to COASTSWEEP@umb.edu or call 617-287-5570.

The complete results from the 2007 cleanups are available here as a 68kb PDFfile.