Pasco County’s 2016 International Coastal Cleanup effort saw a 15 percent increase in volunteers and a 16 percent increase in tonnage over 2015.  In all, 1,372 volunteers picked up 25.36 tons (50,720 pounds) of trash during this year’s event held on Saturday, September 17, 2016.

Volunteer groups throughout Pasco County participated in the International Coastal Cleanup – including Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts; Paddling Pasco; various high school and middle school clubs; and several Adopt-A-Road organizations.

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the turnout of this year’s Coastal Cleanup,” said Kristen King, Keep Pasco Beautiful Coordinator.  “We are ecstatic with the large turnout we had on September 17th.  Hundreds of people throughout Pasco County showed their concern for the community by picking up litter that wasn’t even theirs.  It reminded me that we all have the power to do something, and that together we can do amazing things.”

The purpose of the event is to not only to pick up litter, but to also collect data on what kind of trash is collected.  Organized locally by Pasco County and Keep Pasco Beautiful, the cleanup extends globally.  The Ocean Conservancy uses the information to produce an annual country-by-country, state-by-state index of the problem of marine debris.

To learn how you can volunteer with Keep Pasco Beautiful call (727) 856-7252 or e-mail kking@pascocountyfl.net .

For more information about Keep Pasco Beautiful visit this link: http://keeppascobeautiful.org.

For more information about the International Coastal Cleanup click here: http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/international-coastal-cleanup

For more information about recycling in Pasco County: http://www.pascocountyfl.net/index.aspx?nid=181