Ocean Cleanup Removes 900 Tons of Debris

Workers involved in a three-year-long ocean cleanup along the North Carolina coast have removed more than 900 tons of debris out of public waterways, WNCT reports.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation honored the workers this week through an appreciation lunch. The cleanup crew, made up of over 50 fishermen and women, removed debris equal to the weight of six blue whales. Since starting the project in February 2019, the crew removed 1,846,020 pounds of garbage, which was then either recycled, repurposed, or disposed of properly.

Most of the debris (80%) was lumber. The rest was dock floats, trash, lost fishing gear, and various other items.

Removing debris and trash from the ocean and beaches is a global priority. International Coastal Cleanup Day will take place Saturday, September 18 and is one of the world’s largest volunteer efforts to remove trash from waterways.