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Southcoast Cleanups Net Nearly Nine Tons of Trash December 18, 2006 CONTACT: Ben Bryant Marine Policy Specialist, The Coalition for Buzzards Bay
NEW BEDFORD, MA—Volunteers collected more than 17,500 pounds of marine debris from area beaches in 2006 as part of the Adopt A Shoreline Program. Coordinated by The Coalition for Buzzards Bay and UMASS Dartmouth, the program aims to connect citizens, organizations, and businesses to the waterfront by organizing monthly beach cleanups from April through October. This year, 17 organizations partnered to adopt locations in New Bedford, Fairhaven, and the surrounding region. In all, volunteers gave more than 944 hours of their time to the effort. An analysis of the debris collected indicates food wrappers and containers, cigarette filters, plastic bottles, and styrofoam cups make up the majority of trash washing up on our shores. “While many items we collected could be directly linked to the commercial uses of the waterfront, such as pieces of rope, netting and buoys, most of the trash that’s accumulatingon our shores is a result of individual acts of littering, says Ben Bryant, Coalition for Buzzards Bay Marine Policy Specialist and Adopt A Shoreline Program Manager. Gathering data on the types and amount of trash volunteers pick up is a key component of the Adopt A Shoreline program. “The data we collect plays an important role in understanding where the trash on our shores is coming from and guiding efforts to reduce litter in our communities.” Marine debris threatens the environment due to its impact on plants and animals. Fish, birds and other animals mistake marine debris for food leading to suffocation and digestive failures. Core habitat for marine life is impaired by the presence of litter and trash reducing its ability to support a diversified ecosystem. Marine debris also impacts human health and the economy. Unsightly trash piled up on local beaches reduces the appeal of our natural resources for our citizens and visiting tourist. Economic impacts can occur from debris being caught in the intake systems of marine engines and clogging of storm drains. According to Bryant, Adopt A Shoreline Program plans for next year will include expanding the partnership to includenewadopters, educating the public on the analysis of the trash collected, and coordinating activities with the help of New Bedford’s Operation Clean Sweep Program, whose anti-liter campaign focuses on New Bedford neighborhoods. “Our long-term objective is to have these efforts lead to reductions in the amount of debris entering the waterways,” he says. Financial or in-kind support for Adopt A Shoreline 2006 was provided by City of New Bedford, Town of Fairhaven, Nye Lubricants Inc., the Old Bedford Village Development Corporation, United Way, and UMASS Dartmouth. 2006 Adopt A Shoreline partner organizations include: Beaverdam Neighborhood Group, Bourne Shellfish Working Group,Bristol County Sheriff, Community Boating Center, Dartmouth Brownie Troop 113, Slocum River Group, North Fairhaven Neighborhood Group, Global Learning Charter School, Hedge Street Neighborhood Association, New Bedford Vocational Technical High School, Nye Lubricants Inc., Operation Clean Sweep, Poverty Point Neighborhood Association, The Coalition for Buzzards Bay, Unitarian Church, Youth Build, and Youth Court. For more information on the Adopt A Shoreline or to volunteer, contact Ben Bryant at 508-999-6363 x 214, bryant@savebuzzardsbay.org
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