Volunteers Wanted for Beach Cleanup this Weekend

[Brandon-K]

Volunteers Wanted for Beach Cleanup this Weekend

New Hampshire Volunteers Participate in

Worldwide Beach Cleanup



Portsmouth, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is looking for volunteers to make a difference cleaning up our beaches. Beach cleanup events in New Hampshire start this Friday, September 19 when over 600 students will help clean up Hampton Beach! Then on Saturday September 20, public volunteers will pick up litter and debris on over 20 sites on the Seacoast. Last year over a thousand volunteers filled 309 trash bags with approximately 5,700 pounds of debris.



This is an eye-opening opportunity to make a huge impact on the health of the marine environment. Last year over 380,000 volunteers in 76 countries participated in the event, which is coordinated worldwide by the Ocean Conservancy.



The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation is coordinating this year’s International Coastal Cleanup in New Hampshire with grant funding provided by the New Hampshire Coastal Program at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Other major sponsors are Waste Management and FPL Seabrook Station. Free coffee and water will be provided thanks to sponsorship by Poland Spring and Starbucks Coffee.



What: Student Cleanup Day; International Coastal Cleanup Day

When: September 19 and 20;

Where: Hampton Beach; Over 20 locations throughout the Seacoast, including Foss Beach, Jenness Beach and Ragged Neck in Rye, New Castle Common in New Castle, the Scammell Bridge boat launch in Durham and an underwater site at Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier on Peirce Island in Portsmouth.

For more information on how to participate in the cleanup visit Blue Ocean: International Coastal Cleanup or call (603) 431-0260.

CONTACT: Mary Power and Catherine Coletti, New Hampshire Coastal Program,

(603) 559-1500

Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, (603) 431-0260