Thousands To Gather For Coastal Cleanup

Published: Aug 21, 2007

TAMPA - Thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in a cleanup Sept. 15 at 16 sites across Hillsborough County.

Sponsored by Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful and the Ocean Conservancy, the event coincides with the International Coastal Cleanup, which each year recruits a half-million people around the world to pick up trash and debris from beaches, lakes and rivers.

In Hillsborough last year, about 3,200 volunteers cleaned 90 miles of shoreline and collected nearly 32 tons of trash, said Christine Commerce, Keep Hillsborough's executive director. Volunteers also found 11 animals entangled in fishing lines or nets.

Participants will gather at 8 a.m. on cleanup day and work until noon. Organizers are recruiting volunteers for sites in Tampa, Ruskin, Lutz, Thonotosassa, Gibsonton and the Sunshine Skyway south fishing pier.

For information or to register, e-mail KeepHCB@yahoo.comor call (813) 960-5121.

Susan M. Green