Charleston, S.C.— The coastal portion of 29th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep, postponed in September because of the threat of Tropical Storm Irma, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Each year thousands of people volunteer for the Sweep, South Carolina’s largest one-day litter cleanup of beaches, marshes and waterways.
The inland Sweeps went ahead as planned in September, but coastal cleanups were put on hold as communities worked to remove major debris pushed ashore by Irma’s storm surge.
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium partners with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to organize the statewide event, which is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Anyone can participate – individuals, families, schools, youth groups, civic and conservation clubs and businesses. Volunteers either organize their own cleanups at sites that are not already covered or they may sign up to assist at the cleanup locations listed on the websites below.
Last year over 4,100 dedicated volunteers removed nearly 24 tons of litter from the state’s beaches, marshes and waterways. The haul included a gas grill, several televisions, two bed frames, a tricycle and the front bumper of a car. In the cleanup’s 28-year history, 1,233 tons of litter have been collected, and much of it was recycled.