On Saturday, Sept. 17, approximately 40 people picked up and documented 2,895 debris items.
“We were in excellent company with thousands of people across South Carolina participating in the Beach Sweep/River Sweep and millions from more than 150 countries participating in the International Coastal Cleanup,” said Kelly Thorvalson, the Conservation Programs Manager for the South Carolina Aquarium.
“Litter sweeps with data collection provide valuable insight into debris that ends up in the natural environment. By leveraging this data, we can help inform solutions to plastic pollution, one of the greatest environmental threats of our time.”
This sweep was made possible through Pam and D. Michael Wilson Plastic-Free Waters, a South Carolina Aquarium program aimed at mitigating plastic pollution impacts through outreach, community engagement and conservation fieldwork across South Carolina.