The Maine Coastal Program, a Division of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), has opened registration for the annual Coastal Cleanup. The Coastal Cleanup is a volunteer-driven initiative designed to clean debris from Maine's coastal shores and waterfront communities.

Part of the International Coastal Cleanup, Maine's Coastal Cleanup will run during the month of September. Anyone who wishes to coordinate a local cleanup can register online by completing a form and selecting one of nearly 150 sites along the coast.

Once a registration has been received, DMR will remove the chosen location from the available sites on the online registration form. If a coordinator indicates on the registration form that they are seeking volunteers, DMR will list that site along with contact information so interested volunteers can reach out to the coordinator.

Prior to the date of each cleanup, coordinators will be sent a package containing resources to collect and record trash. "We are encouraging coordinators to have their volunteers bring gloves, hats, sunscreen and water to stay hydrated," said Theresa Torrent, Outreach and Stewardship Specialist for the Maine Coastal Program.

The International Coastal Cleanup was established over 35 years ago to address the problem of trash in our oceans and on our coasts. The non-profit Ocean Conservancy, which coordinates the global initiative, maintains a database of all the items that volunteers around the world record when collecting trash, and publishes a report of each years Cleanup.

According to the most recent report, from 2019, 1,566 Maine volunteers cleared 3,626 pounds of trash from 157 miles of the states coastline. "Every year this effort provides an opportunity for people to support Maine's coastal communities and to join a global initiative aimed at improving the health of our oceans," said Torrent.

"The Maine Coastal Program has been the State Coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup for over 30 years and remains committed to supporting and facilitating efforts like this to keep our coastal beaches and waterways clean," said Torrent.

Anyone interested in coordinating a Coastal Cleanup can register online at https://www.maine.gov/dmr/mcp/planning/coastweek/cleanup2021.html

For more information regarding Maines Coastal Cleanup program, please contact theresa.torrent@maine.gov