The Big Cleanup Clearwater Results Are In

Clearwater FL

09 November, 2021

12:41 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Clearwater: Nov. 9, 2021 The results are in for the first-ever The Big Cleanup Clearwater! Between Oct. 11 and 16, more than 1,297 volunteers picked up the equivalent of half the weight of an elephant. Approximately 6,588 pounds of litter was picked up through a series of cleanups hosted by local businesses, civic groups and homeowner associations. "It was a bittersweet feeling to see the total collected. On the one hand, it's upsetting to know the amount of litter existed in our community in the first place," said Mayor Frank Hibbard. "However, we're so grateful for the volunteers that found and picked up all those items and the example they set for the community." As part of the cleanup, volunteers were required to self-report their litter totals and findings. Some of the most popular findings were cigarette butts and plastic bottles. These items are important to remove because they do not decompose quickly, and they spread chemicals that harm the wildlife in our community. Some of the most popular peculiar items found were monopoly money, rugs, toothbrushes and car parts. "It was amazing to see the number of volunteers participating and how much ground they were able to cover," said Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Moullet. "Many volunteers were here because they took pride in having a litter-free community. So many non-Clearwater residents also jumped in just to be a part of the solution and that was amazing to see." More than 70 participating business and community groups picked up trash at parks, schools, recreation centers, beaches and more across Clearwater. In total, volunteers cleaned up an estimated 126 roadways and 11 shorelines. "It's important to remember that the cleanup efforts do not stop here," said Sustainability Coordinator Sheridan Boyle. "We want to encourage people to dispose of trash, avoid using single-use plastics, volunteer for other cleanup events throughout the year and continue recycling properly." The city would like to thank the other community organizations that made this cleanup possible such as Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Visit St. Petersburg Clearwater, Amplify Clearwater and Ocean Allies. If you'd like to learn more about how you can become involved, visit myclearwater.info/Volunteer This press release was produced by the City of Clearwater. The views expressed here are the author's own.