Volunteer
Beach cleanups are vital to protecting marine ecosystems because they remove plastic debris before it has the chance to wash out to sea and harm wildlife. As a beach cleanup volunteer, you’re contributing to the sustainability of our planet.
What You’ll Need
How do you organize a community clean up & what you’ll need
- Trash and recycling bags
- Gloves
- Hand sanitizer
- Drinking water reusable bottle)
- Reef safe Sunblock or sunscreen
What to Pick Up
- Litter and Debris
Even small bits — animals can mistake them for food
- Recyclables
Glass, aluminum cans, tin cans, plastic drinking bottles, etc.
- Trash
Metals, styrofoam, foil wrappers, cloth, food waste, etc.
- Microplastics
Small bits of plastic and plastic beads, in all shapes and colors.
- Anything You Bring
Gloves, cleaning supplies, etc. — leave no trace
Cleanup Best Practices
- Split recyclables and trash into separate bags
- Tie trash bags and dispose in dumpsters (beware overflowing bins: they can cause items to fly away and end up back in the water)
- Don’t pick up weapons or anything that looks like it came from a hospital. Mark questionable items and inform your organizer or the lifeguard.
- If it occurs naturally in nature — like kelp, shells, driftwood — leave it be (try not disrupt animals and plants in the area)
- Know your cleanup zone boundaries and meeting times
- Take note of the nearest lifeguard station and know what to do in case of an emergency
Volunteer With a Friend!
Trying to convince a friend to join you in a cleanup? Here are a few reasons why we should all care about the health of our waters:
- The ocean provides over 70% of the oxygen we breathe
- Rivers and oceans are important sources of food
- Seaweed is an ingredient in many consumer products and captures carbon from our atmosphere a a
- Scientists use marine organisms for lifesaving medicines
If we keep our waters healthy, we can keep our livelihoods and economies thriving, protect wildlife, enjoy water recreation, and build a brighter future for generations to come.
Why Pick Up Plastics and Microplastics?
Microplastics occur when the sun breaks down plastic debris into smaller and smaller fragments that never fully biodegrade.
Animals often mistake plastics and microplastics for food and can get entangled, injured, gravely sick, or wash ashore. When animals that ingest — but can’t digest — these microplastics are eaten, the plastic moves up the food chain, potentially into our food.
Look Out for Wildlife
As you explore the cleanup zone, enjoy the nature around you, but try not to disrupt the animals and plants. They’re enjoying a beach day too! If you find an injured animal, contact your nearest wildlife agency
Lincoln City Summer Beach Cleanup with Ocean Blue Project.
Beach cleanups are vital to protecting marine ecosystems because they remove plastic debris before it has the chance to wash out to sea and harm wildlife. As a beach cleanup volunteer, you’re contributing to the sustainability of our planet.
The pollution in our communities is the reflection of what’s hurting the Ocean. Whether you’re close to the water or not, you can fight ocean pollution with local changes.
Make a difference by joining a community cleanup!
Most importantly creating local community cleanups is a great way to teach youth the importance of healthy communities and clean water projects.
As you explore the cleanup zone, enjoy the nature around you, but try not to disrupt the animals and plants. They’re enjoying a beach day too! If you find an injured animal, contact your nearest wildlife agency.
Microplastics occur when the sun breaks down plastic debris into smaller and smaller fragments that never fully biodegrade. Animals often mistake plastics and microplastics for food and can get entangled, injured, gravely sick, or wash ashore. When animals that ingest-but can’t digest-these microplastics are eaten, the plastic moves up the food chain, potentially into our food.
Lastly, the more ocean plastic we can remove depends on Ocean Cleanup volunteers like you! Thank you for supporting Ocean Blue Project the save the Ocean organization nonprofit. you for supporting Ocean Blue Project the save the ocean organization nonprofit.
Be sure to create a beach cleanup with friends on Oregon Oceans Day!