Delaware’s coastline is cleaner and its wildlife safer thanks to the 769 volunteers who participated in Delaware’s 2004 Coastal Cleanup.  The cleanup took place from 9:00 AM to noon on Saturday, September 18 and the final results show that volunteers picked up 9,366 pounds of trash and deposited 630 trash bags.   A bowling ball and a lady’s wig top the list of strange finds; others include a shopping cart, keys, furniture, make-up, a car bumper, a cell phone and a film canister with the film still in it.

Delaware participates in the annual International Coastal Cleanup sponsored by The Ocean Conservancy, which supplied the trash bags, data cards and more.  Pre-registrations for 2004’s cleanup indicated that there would be a large turnout, but storms, particularly in New Castle County, prevented many from participating.

Delaware's 2003 Results	Delaware's 2004 Results
1,135 Volunteers 17,564 Pounds of Trash 14,072 Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters	739 Volunteers 9,366 Pounds of Trash 15,351 Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters

Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) was responsible for recruiting volunteers, organizing the event and distributing supplies.  Corporate sponsors promoted the cleanup and contributed staff time and supplies. Conectiv, the primary corporate sponsor, donated the t-shirts.  Playtex of Dover continued their support by donating gloves to protect the volunteers.

The Ocean Conservancy is a non-profit organization that has been working since 1972 to ensure that the world’s oceans provide a healthy environment for an abundant and diverse population of marine animals.   The International Coastal Cleanup is the Conservancy’s flagship program dealing with marine debris and data collection. It is the oldest and largest one-day volunteer effort on behalf of the marine environment of its kind.   Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world help each year to rid the environment of marine debris and collect detailed information on the types and quantities of refuse.

For more information on The Ocean Conservancy or the International Coastal Cleanup, visit the Conservancy’s website, www.oceanconservancy.org.  For further information about Delaware’s Coastal Cleanup, contact Jennifer Knotts, DNREC Public Affairs Office (302) 739-4506.