Yesterday, 78 community volunteers converged at our ICC host site, the Miami Yacht Club on Watson Island, to collect and remove from the shoreline more than 4,000 pieces of trash, totaling 962 pounds. As the Blue Scholars metrics team furiously cataloged each item under the sorting tent (generously provided by Curtis Crider of Jungle Island) it was clear that plastic waste was the main culprit.

Top Five Items Recorded

PLASTIC BAGS
PLASTIC BOTTLE CAPS
PLASTIC BOTTLES
BEVERAGE CANS
FOOD WRAPPERS

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year, and make up 80% of all marine debris from surface waters to deep-sea sediments.

Following this eye-opening experience, volunteers were treated to a waterfront lunch, courtesy of the yacht club, that was accompanied by live music and a welcomed sea breeze. In addition, partner organization Surfrider Miami, using kits from EarthEcho International, tested the water quality with several young participants, while environmental artist, JudyDay, provided them with paint supplies to create underwater scenes on upcycled CD's.

Big THANKS to the Miami Yacht Club, Coastal Waste & Recycling and Jungle Island for their support and contributions towards this special event. Thanks also to the government officials who joined us throughout the day, including City of Miami Commissioner, Ken Russell; County Chief Bay Officer, Irela Bague; and Liaison to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Kirsten Castillo.

Spearheaded by VolunteerCleanup.org, the more than 17,700 pounds of trash that was removed from the 50+ sites across Miami-Dade County, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, could not have been accomplished without the nearly 3,000 volunteers who came out in force to #connectandcollect. We are deeply grateful for their efforts and for the incredible support by our many hosts, sponsors and partner organizations. Thank you all!