Join SOLVE for clean seas on March 31st, 2012 from 10 am to 1 pm!

Celebrate clean seas with Oregonians from all over the state by cleaning up our beaches Saturday March 31st. To participate, meet at a registration site near your favorite beach click here to register, where volunteer Beach Captains will be stationed with free bags, gloves, and safety information.

Marine Debris en route from the 2011 Tsunami in Japan

NOAA National Ocean Service estimates that some debris could approach the West Coast in 2013. SOLVE may need your help at that time for additional cleanups so please stay tuned. Researchers from the University of Manoa, Hawaii are tracking the trajectory of the debris with is likely to reach the Hawaiian Islands soon.

Come prepared, stay safe, and celebrate!

Bring raingear, sturdy shoes, and never turn your back to the sea! Additional tips shared by veteran cleanup volunteers to maximize cleanup efforts include:

• Bring a bucket or reusable bag to reduce the amount of plastic trash bags used
• Bring an old colander to sift the tide lines for harmful, bite-sized bits of plastic
• Bring a pair of gardening gloves to reduce use of plastic gloves
• Bring a reusable water bottle and/or coffee mug
• Carpool and use public transportation where possible
• Plan ahead and pack a “trash-free” lunch
• Send SOLVE your stories of efforts to achieve a personal zero waste to landfill day!
• Please avoid Western Snowy Plover habitat. Stay outside of roped areas, and keep your pets leashed.
• Steer clear of sea lions for your safety and your pets. Increasing numbers are reported to be infected with a harmful bacteria. To report stranded marine mammals call 1-800-452-7888.

History of the SOLV Spring & Fall Oregon Beach Cleanups

It was 1984, and Judie Hansen was working for Oregon Fish & Wildlife. One day she flipped through an issue of Alaska’s Fish & Game magazine which had been delivered by mistake to her office. She landed on an article about the untimely death of a brown bear, an autopsy of which revealed the bear’s stomach held the remains of 13 Styrofoam cups, likely leading the bear to assume a full stomach. Judie had no idea small bits of plastic could harm wildlife, and began talking with others about plastic rubbish in the environment. The dream of an Oregon Beach Cleanup began to take root.

Many people stepped up to make the 1st beach cleanup possible, including Eleanor Dye, with the North Coast Refuse Haulers. She organized haulers up and down the coast, who have been donating their services to properly dispose of the trash picked up by volunteers now for 28 years! That is no small service, as in the first year alone 26 tons of trash were picked up by 2,100 volunteers. The cleanup has since grown into an Oregonian tradition, with thousands of people working together each year to protect the health of our oceans, wildlife, and coastal economies.

TO REGISTER NOW, Scroll down to the bottom of this page!