Assateague, OC Beach Cleanups Set For Saturday

OCEAN CITY - In an effort to turn the tide against trash and debris along area beaches and riverbanks, Delmarva Power is partnering with environmental, civic and business organizations throughout the region and sponsoring the 21st Annual Coastal Cleanup this fall.

Volunteers are needed to remove trash from 76 beach and riverbank locations throughout Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Most cleanups will occur on Saturday, Sept. 15, while others will take place on other dates in September and October.

'Unfortunately, many people who visit our region's beaches and rivers over the summer leave behind a lot of trash,' said Delmarva Power's Matt Likovich, a longtime coordinator of Coastal Cleanup. 'Add to that the debris that washes ashore and you have the potential for serious pollution. Delmarva Power is proud to sponsor Coastal Cleanup because it reflects the kind of environmental stewardship that is central to our business.'

Delmarva Power has sponsored the regional Coastal Cleanup, which is part of International Coastal Cleanup, for 17 consecutive years. The types and quantities of trash collected will be itemized. The data will then be used to pinpoint the source of debris, as well as target ways to reduce or eliminate waste.

Each participant will receive an original Coastal Cleanup T-shirt, courtesy of Delmarva Power. A Delmarva Power graphic artist has provided a unique design for each year's cleanup campaign and the many volunteers who return each year consider the shirts a collector's item.

More than 2,500 volunteers collected nearly 28,000 pounds of trash in last year's cleanup. The usual soda cans and cigarette butts were found as well as a few oddities, such as refrigerator doors, fireworks, an air conditioner, fire extinguisher and car bumper.

Local Maryland clean up dates and contact people are as follows: Assateague Island, 9 a.m. on Sept. 15, Nadine Miller, 410-629-1538; Ocean City, 9 a.m. on Sept. 15, Nancy Howard, 410-524-1881; Pocomoke River, Snow Hill, 9 a.m. on Sept. 15, Ron Pilling, 410-632-3971; and Nassawango Creek, Snow Hill, 9 a.m. on Sept. 22, Joe Fehrer, Jr., 410-632-3746

In Delaware, the statewide cleanup is Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. Contact Jennifer Hall at 302-739-9906.