Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces the Launch of the 2024 COASTSWEEP Beach Cleanup
All Are Encouraged to Come Out and Help Clean the Coast!
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that the official start of the 2024 COASTSWEEP beach cleanup will be on Saturday, September 21. The public is encouraged to volunteer at one of the dozens of cleanup events planned along the coast this fall. The COASTSWEEP cleanups, organized by the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), take place until early November. Since 1987, more than 100,000 COASTSWEEP volunteers have removed over a million pounds of marine debris and other trash from Massachusetts beaches, lakes, rivers, and the seafloor.
“Massachusetts is home to a beautiful coastline that needs our care. It is our turn to give back to the beaches we cherish,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Taking part in the COASTSWEEP cleanup is a meaningful way to demonstrate our commitment to preserving the Massachusetts coast and ensuring they remain clean and inviting for all.”
“Thank you to the thousands of volunteers that have participated in COASTSWEEP since 1987,” said CZM Director Alison Brizius. “The data you’ve collected shows that much of the trash found on beaches starts as litter on our streets, so along with participating in a COASTSWEEP cleanup this fall, we can all do our part all year long by always properly disposing of trash.”
COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by Ocean Conservancy, and draws hundreds of thousands of volunteers to coastal cleanups in 120 countries worldwide. In addition to removing trash, COASTSWEEP volunteers tally the items found. This information is entered into Ocean Conservancy’s international marine debris database, where it helps researchers and policymakers better understand the sources of global marine debris and develop solutions for prevention.
Marine debris is more than an eyesore. Wildlife can be entangled or choked when they encounter this material, tiny pieces of plastic enter the water column and food chain, people can step on sharp objects on the beach, boat propellors can get jammed, and so much more.
During COASTSWEEP 2023, more than 3,000 volunteers removed over 23 tons of trash from 165 sites, with a total of 63,517 pieces of marine debris collected along Massachusetts shorelines. As in past years, cigarette butts were the most common item found (11,558 total), followed by plastic pieces (6,542). Many other plastic items were removed and cataloged—including food wrappers, bottles and caps, straws, and foam packaging—for a total of 32,279 plastic and foam items tallied.
A great way to get involved in COASTSWEEP is to organize a cleanup. All supplies (bags, gloves, data cards, pencils, etc.) are provided free of charge, and cleanups can be scheduled at your convenience. Individuals can also volunteer at a scheduled cleanup. To organize or join a cleanup, check out the COASTSWEEP website or email coastsweep@mass.gov. COASTSWEEP 2024 sponsors are EEA, CZM, Ocean Conservancy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and Tronex, a personal protective equipment company that provided gloves for the cleanups.
The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Through planning, technical and grant assistance, and public information programs, CZM seeks to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. The agency’s work includes helping coastal communities address the challenges of storms, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change; working with state, regional, and federal partners to balance current and new uses of ocean waters while protecting ocean habitats and promoting sustainable economic development; and partnering with communities and other organizations to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats
