Volunteers encouraged to sign up by Sept. 5 for Delaware Coastal Cleanup set Sept. 17

DNREC Secretary David Small and Kitts Hummock residents gathered at the small community on central Delaware's Bayshore to encourage volunteer signups for the 2016 Delaware Coastal Cleanup, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 17, at more than 50 sites statewide. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the cleanup spans the First State's 97-mile eastern coastline and includes Delaware River and Bay, and Atlantic Ocean shorelines as well as wetland and watershed areas.

"With Delaware's annual Coastal Cleanup, we know we are making a difference. Not only are we cleaning up trash from our beaches, waterways and watershed areas, we are raising public awareness about trash disposal and recycling," Small said. "In addition, the data our volunteers gather helps identify the source of debris and focus efforts on reducing or eliminating it, both locally and internationally."

Preregistration is open on the Delaware Coastal Cleanup webpage on the DNREC website, and is strongly encouraged to ensure enough supplies are packed for each site. Preregistration will close Monday, Sept. 5.

"Many of our sites need more volunteers, especially some of our smaller sites along the Delaware Bayshore and in our wildlife areas," said Delaware Coastal Cleanup Coordinator Joanna Wilson. "The success of the Coastal Cleanup depends on a diverse group of volunteers from civic organizations, youth groups and businesses to individuals and families, and we want to encourage both new and veteran volunteers to come out and join this important effort Sept. 17. And, it's a great day outdoors in some of Delaware's most beautiful and unique places!"

Some of this year's Sussex County sites that need additional volunteers are Nanticoke Wildlife Area – Phillips Landing, on the Nanticoke River near Laurel*, Slaughter Beach near Milford, Boat Hole/Love Creek, near Lewes*, Lewes Public Boat Ramp* Lewes Beach, Dewey/Indian Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach and Delaware Seashore State Park – 3Rs Road, Keybox Road, North and South Indian River Inlet sites and Fenwick Island. *Unique smaller sites that especially need volunteers

Popular sites that do not need additional volunteers include Cape Henlopen State Park sites and Rehoboth Beach.

Delaware's Cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup, the world's largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines and lakes by volunteers. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world help each year to rid the environment of marine debris and collect detailed information on the types and quantities of refuse they find. This information is recorded on data cards and forwarded to the Center for Marine Conservation, which compiles data for all of the cleanups held in the country and around the world. This information helps identify the source of the debris and focus efforts on eliminating or reducing it.

The Delaware Coastal Cleanup is sponsored by DNREC, which organizes the event, recruits volunteers, distributes supplies, ensures trash removal and tabulates all data collected. Co-sponsors are Edgewell Personal Care/Playtex Manufacturing, which provides gloves, and Waste Management, which hauls trash and recyclables. The Ocean Conservancy supplies trash bags, data cards and brochures on marine debris.

For more information about the Ocean Conservancy and the International Coastal Cleanup, go to www.oceanconservancy.org.

For more information about the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, call Joanna Wilson, Delaware Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at 302-739-9902.