2003 Sweep coastal results and 2003 photos

2004 Sweep coastal results and 2004 photos
2002 Sweep coastal results and 2002 photos

As has happened twice before, a hurricane came close to causing the Beach Sweep/River Sweep to be rescheduled. A mere two days before the cleanup, Hurricane Isabel landed in the Outer Banks of N.C.

Sunny skies prevailed during the 15th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep, and nearly 3,000 volunteers on the coast cleared over 14 tons of trash from beaches, marshes, and waterways—1.5 tons less debris compared to last year. Over 100 site captains and their volunteers covered about 65 cleanup sites in every coastal county. Community involvement during this effort was fantastic, garnering support from Girl and Boy Scouts, K-12 schools and colleges, environmental and civic groups, museums, aquaria, state and federal agencies, resorts, and businesses. Statewide an estimated 6,000 people cleared our fragile ecosystems of harmful debris.

Cigarette butts are the #1 item found on the coast, followed by debris associated with recreational activities (bottles, cans, plastic ware, and fast food containers) and boating activities (ropes, nets, buoys, and fishing line). Firework debris continues to be a problem in the Myrtle Beach area, as is styrofoam in the Charleston area. And volunteers are still retrieving items on Bull Island in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge from a shrimp boat that sunk almost two years ago. Some unusual items include several bicycles, lots of tires and car parts, a boat and boat parts, a propane tank, a lawn mower, clothing, a hair dryer, an old Polaroid camera, cell phones, a calculator, fake vampire teeth, an alarm clock, mattresses, a microwave, and a big screen TV. Basically, volunteers collected enough debris to build and furnish a few houses and clothe the families that might live in them; we also could build a couple of cars.

Special thanks to Joanna Murray, College of Charleston communications student, who helped Susan Ferris organize the Sweep on the coast. Also, thanks to S.C. Sea Grant staffer Susannah Sheldon for coordinating the cleanup on Folly Island.

Beach Sweep/River Sweep is part of The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, and is organized by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and S.C. Department of Natural Resources. South Carolina ranks fifth worldwide in the number of volunteers, saving taxpayers nearly $300,000 each year according to Independent Sector, a coalition of non-profits based in Washington, D.C.

To volunteer on the coast, contact Susan Ferris Hill. Together we can make our environment cleaner and safer for all to enjoy!