Thousands of Volunteers to Cleanup Great Lakes Beaches Saturday

Regional September Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup Slated for Saturday (9/21); Thousands of Volunteers to Cleanup Beaches on all Five Great Lakes

What: September Adopt-a-Beach is the largest annual day of action for the Great Lakes. Thousands of volunteers clean up beaches around the Great Lakes while collecting data on beach litter. The results: thousands of pounds of litter removed from Great Lakes beaches and cleaner and healthier lakes. The events are held as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, a global event. Last year, more than 6,300 volunteers participated in 235 events. Volunteers cleaned up about 11,655 pounds of litter, most of it plastic. 

Who: Volunteers from all walks of life, including individuals, families, schools, businesses, and community groups, will join Adopt-a-Beach cleanups on all five Great Lakes. 

When: Saturday, September 21 (Event times vary by location. Most cleanups are held in the morning.) 

Where: Great Lakes beaches and shorelines in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. To find cleanups in your area, visit www.greatlakesadopt.org. 

How: It's not too late for volunteers to join a cleanup. Visit greatlakesadopt.org to find a cleanup in your community. For more information about what to expect at a cleanup event, visit www.greatlakes/AdoptABeach

Why: Adopt-a-Beach volunteers are on the front-lines of keeping plastic pollution out of the Great Lakes. More than 85% of the beach litter collected by volunteers each year is made up fully or in part of plastic. 

Jennifer J. Caddick | Vice President, Communications and Engagement

Alliance for the Great Lakes | www.greatlakes.org

150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 700 | Chicago, IL 60601 

312-445-9760 (office) |315-767-2802 (cell)