SOLVE Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup

Small Pieces Make a Big Impact

Even the smallest bits of trash can be harmful. For example, cigarette butts flow into storm drains, then directly to our rivers and streams. The chemicals they retain are released as they flow downstream to the ocean. Just as troubling, cigarette butts, tiny bits of plastic, and other trash are readily eaten by marine life. If we eat seafood, we may also ingest these contaminants.

Pre-production plastic pellets (nurdles) and fish eggs look very similar to hungry marine life. How many nurdles can you find on March 30?

Oregon's Tsunami Debris Response

The 2011 tsunami in Japan washed tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean. In response, SOLVE is working in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies, Japanese organizations, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations to engage volunteers in marine debris removal projects.

Learn more about Oregon's coordinated response.

History of the SOLVE 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 first 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.
 

Special Note on SOLVE Bags

SOLVE is committed to reducing waste at all our events. SOLVE plastic trash bags are composed of 70-100% recycled plastic. Each ton of recycled plastic bags used in place of new plastic bags saves the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil. SOLVE is researching alternatives to plastic bags, and encourages volunteers to bring their own reusable buckets and bags to cleanup events.