A ton of trash removed from Inland Bays

A group of 54 energetic volunteers hopped aboard boats June 9 and scoured the shores of the Inland Bays, removing a whopping one ton of trash.

Organized by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, this cleanup event was run with the assistance of DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Section, and the Division of Parks & Recreation, with special help from Coast Guard Station Indian River and Dewey Beach Lions Club.

Altogether, 2,140 pounds (1.07 tons) of trash were collected and deposited into a dumpster provided by Waste Industries Inc., and disposed of via the Delaware Solid Waste Authority’s Community Clean-Up Initiative, once again sponsored by Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes. The center extends thanks to Waste Industries and The Full Circle Project for their generous donations.

“As in past years, we’re seeing a large amount of plastic pollution in the form of soda and water bottles, wrappers, straws and shotgun shells,” said organizer Bob Collins. “We’re also seeing larger pieces of trash and debris like old tires, derelict crab pots and even docking lumber – most of which is probably washed into the bays during nor’easters and hurricanes each year.”

Trash in the Inland Bays can be harmful to the health and safety of visitors and marine life, both of which are important to a thriving tourism economy. The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays extends a massive thank you to the many volunteers, organizers, sponsors, and supporters that came out to make the bays beautiful at this year’s event! 

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a nonprofit organization established in 1994, one of 28 National Estuary Programs. With its many partners, the CIB works to preserve, protect and restore Delaware’s Inland Bays, the water that flows into them and the watershed around them.