Saturday, thousands of volunteers will help in a statewide effort to clean debris from watersheds. The annual “Beach and Riverside Cleanup” has over 140 locations, from Eugene’s Alton Baker Park to the coast.
This weekend’s effort is part of an “International Coastal Cleanup.” SOLVE’s Program Coordinator Jon Schmidt says participants can use an app to record what they pick up:
Schmidt: “Volunteers who clean the beaches on that day will be joined by volunteers around world. Many of those volunteers will be collecting data on the debris they find, and then it’s all accumulated into a big report that the Ocean Conservancy puts out every year.”
Among other things, the report tallies the top 10 litter items, which usually includes straws, plastic water bottles and packaging. This year, organizers encourage people to bring their own bucket and garden gloves, so they’re not using disposable plastic items to clean up … disposable plastic items.
To learn more about being a volunteer, visit SOLVE Oregon's website here.