Beach Cleanups

Beach Cleanups

The Center for Coastal Studies organizes volunteer beach cleanups in many communities on Cape Cod. Our cleanup efforts started in Provincetown, where we are based, but we recently began expanding our shoreline cleanup efforts throughout the rest of the Cape. We like to say, “We clean clean beaches!” because when compared to other parts of the world, our shores may appear spotless. In reality, most are littered with debris, and a closer look will yield countless small plastic pieces, lobster trap tags, bottle caps, balloon pieces and so much more.

Marine Debris Field Guide
With funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program, CCS and its regional partners developed a comprehensive Field Guide to Marine Debris In the Gulf of Maine.  The full-color pamphlet features over one hundred debris types sorted in nine categories including Food-related, Personal Hygiene, Fishing, Construction, Potentially Hazardous, Smoking and Non-descript debris. The fifty-page field guide is available in digital and hard copy versions for use by the general public, school groups, and others interested in identifying and cataloguing marine debris in New England and the Canadian Maritimes.

​Trash Tallies

Data about the debris are collected either during cleanups through the use of a data card or smart phone app, or later, at a “trash tally” after the cleanup. A trash tally involves dumping the collected trash out and then sorting, categorizing, and counting each piece of debris. This process illuminates the scope of trash collected and contributes detailed data on the number of bottle caps, straws, shotgun shells, etc. in our region. Here are some of the results from our most recent trash tallies.

Trash to Art

Over time, the Center has cultivated a network of artists who repurpose marine debris and derelict fishing gear to create art. It’s hard to say specifically what may catch their eye, but artists have been known to use rope, lobster bait bags, balloons, tampon applicators, and other colorful pieces of plastic in their work. To learn more about these artists, click here.

Beach Brigade

With more than 550 miles of beaches on Cape Cod, we can use all the help we can get in an effort to keep them clean and collect data on the debris. Our dedicated team of over 300 volunteers, called the Beach Brigade, contributes hours of time doing just that. Whether at a town beach in Provincetown, all the way across the breakwater, or in another location on Cape Cod, this committed group of volunteers is our first line of defense against marine debris. If you would like to become a “Brigadier”, please email Laura Ludwig ([email protected]) to receive bulletins about upcoming opportunities. We would love to have you on our team!

How Else to Help

Beyond joining the Beach Brigade, there are many other ways you can help keep our shorelines free from debris. Conduct your own cleanups, whether at a beach, park or roadway. Click to download a copy of our data sheet; bring it along on your next beach walk, then send the completed form to us and we’ll include it in our database, or download one of these apps and list CCS as your host organization: CleanSwell or NOAA’s Marine Debris Tracker. Educate yourself on the harmful impacts of plastics.  Refuse to use single-use plastics in your daily routine — most of what we find during cleanups is plastic from everyday items like plastic wrap, cups, straws, food containers, etc. It’s going to take everyone to boot the use of single use plastics, but you won’t be alone in your efforts!

 

Contact Us

Entanglement Hotline: (800) 900-3622
[email protected]
(508) 487-3622
5 Holway Avenue
Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-3623

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