The Hampton Clean City Commission needs volunteers to coordinate waterway cleanup sites for the International Coastal Cleanup. Cleanups for this international event will take place from September 1 through October 31. Contact Cris Ausink at causink@hampton.gov or 727-1158 to sign up.

Site captains provide on-site registration and supervision for volunteers participating in the cleanup of one site. Of course, site captains are welcome to staff more than one site throughout the period if they would like provide additional support to the effort. Site captains also pick up equipment for their site from the HCCC Office at 1296 Thomas Street, distribute cleanup supplies, go over safety rules, collect supplies and log sheets at the end of the cleanup, and return materials to HCCC.

Participation in this cleanup is really important, because so much of our litter ends up in our oceans. The report from the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup can be found HERE. Some U.S. highlights are:

• The single litter item collected in 2008 was the cigarette butt – 1,362,741 of them. If you include other cigarette litter (tips, wrappers, and lighters) the tally rose to 1,4922,092 individual cigarette items.
• 397,231 food wrappers and containers were collected.
• 229,758 plastic bags, which are very harmful to marine life, including sea turtles, were picked up.
• 36,910 fishing lines were removed from waterways and shores.
• 27,016 medical or personal hygiene items (condoms, syringes, diapers, tampons or applicators) were cleaned up.

In Virginia, the International Coastal Cleanup is coordinated statewide by Clean Virginia Waterways. Last fall 5,710 volunteers cleaned 364.9 miles of Virginia shoreline and removed 254,046 pounds of debris.

To volunteer as a site captain, contact Cris Ausink at causink@hampton.gov or 727-1158.