Grab your gloves and garbage bags, it’s that time of year again. Volunteers will soon descend on local beaches in an effort to clear them of trash.
The Escambia County Marine Resources, along with the state and national park services and Ocean Conservancy, is hosting an annual coastal cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 15. The cleanups will take place at multiple sites in the area.
On Pensacola Beach, cleanups will be held at Park West, Park East and Landsharks (east of Margaritaville). These cleanups run from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
For Pensacola Bay, there will be a cleanup at the Project Greenshores site, northwest of Highway 98 and the Pensacola Bay Bridge. This cleanup will also run from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
Perdido Key’s cleanups will be held at the Perdido Key State Park, as well as Perdido Bay at Tarklin Bayou State Park. Again, from 8 until 11:30 a.m.
The cleanups for the Gulf Islands National Seashore run a half hour longer, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. These cleanups will take place on Opal Beach for the Santa Rosa area, Johnson Beach picnic area for Perdido Key, the southside picnic pavilion for the Naval Live Oaks area, and Langdon Beach for the Fort Pickens area.
Volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, gloves, sunscreen and a hat. Bringing plenty of drinking water is also advised.
Families, individuals, businesses and community groups are encouraged to participate. Upon arrival at cleanup sites, people should check in with site captains for trash bags, data cards and further instructions.