Coastal Cleanup Set For September 16

The 36th annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup, Alabama’s largest single-day volunteer cleanup event, will take place in Baldwin and Mobile counties on September 16 at 8 a.m.-noon. Coordinated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ State Lands Division and Alabama People Against a Littered State, Alabama Coastal Cleanup has seen more than 108,000 volunteers participate and more than 875 tons of marine debris collected since 1987. In addition to removing various forms of marine debris, many of the plastic bottles and aluminum cans collected will be recycled. Organizers are recommending participants use the Ocean Conservancy Clean Swell app to tally the debris. Data collected over the years help provide insight into the issue of marine debris and generate efforts to better understand its causes and mitigate it in the future. Volunteers are needed for all cleanup sites in the 28 cleanup zones in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Zone coordinators will distribute trash grabbers, large trash bags, recycling bags, gloves and other cleanup supplies to participants. There is also a limited number of T-shirts, scout badges and window decals available on a first-come, first-served basis.