Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Litter Reduction and Public Action

Beach Sweep & Inland Waterway Cleanup

September 2007

COME JOIN US !

TO KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL

September, 2007, thousands of volunteers are expected to take to Louisiana's waterways and beaches to pickup litter as participants in the 22st Annual Beach Sweep and Inland Waterway Cleanup organized by The Ocean Conservancy. This event is the world's largest cleanup of beaches, oceans, and waterways.

The event is coordinated by The Ocean Conservancy, other federal and state agencies and private companies with the help of citizens who want to be actively involved. During the 2004 Louisiana Beach Sweep and Inland Waterway Cleanup, 2,045 volunteers came to clean-up shorelines and waterways.  Volunteers covered 72 miles, picking up 68,394 debris items that weighed 56,619 pounds.  The 2005 Louisiana Beach Sweep and Inland Waterway Cleanup was cancelled due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  In Louisiana, cigarettes, food wrappers, and plastic beverage bottles accounted for over one quarter of all the debris items collected.

The International Coastal Cleanup is important because "human hands and a human face lie behind every piece of garbage that enters the marine environmental," says The Ocean Conservancy President Roger McManus. "The responsibility for the world-wide problem does not belong solely to shipping companies, fishing fleets, and governments. Ultimately, some individual had to throw that trash overboard, into the street, or into the storm drain. People are the problem, but through the International Coastal Cleanup, people are also the solution."

Those interested in joining this year's cleanup event should contact your local Keep America Beautiful affiliate.