DNREC partners with local communities to launch shoreline cleanup
Volunteers needed to pick up trash and debris at Slaughter, Prime Hook, Broadkill beaches on Oct. 1

DOVER (Sept. 23, 2011) – DNREC has partnered with three Delaware Bay beach communities hardest hit by an unprecedented wave of trash that washed up since last weekend to spearhead a volunteer cleanup effort starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. The influx of trash is believed to be from upstream states which suffered flood damage from Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and other storm events.

“On behalf of the communities of Slaughter, Prime Hook and Broadkill beaches, we need all hands on deck from our great volunteers up and down the state, many of whom just completed Delaware’s Annual Coastal Cleanup,” said Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara. “We ask that anyone with a few extra hours come out next Saturday and help restore these beaches to their clean and pristine state.”

DNREC Emergency Response staff has worked all week to identify potentially hazardous materials and dispose of them properly. However, significant amounts of waste and debris remain on Delaware’s bay coastline. DNREC staff and AmeriCorps volunteers will join residents from all three communities in the cleanup effort, but more help is needed due to the volume of trash.

“The amount of trash on this beach is just phenomenal,” said Jim Bailey, a 30-year resident and president of the Broadkill Beach Preservation Association, a non-profit group of Broadkill property owners that sponsors two annual beach cleanups among other activities. “I’ve never seen it this dirty, never,” he said, adding that the community appreciates any additional volunteer help and will have association members on the beach to help coordinate the cleanup efforts.

“We’re seeing a mix of things we don’t normally see, from huge numbers of bottle caps to half a dozen whiffle balls,” said Bill McSpadden, who has served as Coastal Cleanup site captain for Slaughter Beach for many years. McSpadden is concerned about getting the trash off the beach as soon as possible. “The sooner we get this off the beach, the better for the environment, and we welcome any volunteers who would like to join us. With just our residents, cleanup could take weeks.”

According to longtime Coastal Cleanup site captain John Robinson, who is leading Prime Hook’s cleanup, residents will be starting to pick up trash this weekend, and may need more volunteers next weekend. “We’ll know more by Monday,” Robinson said, “but if we’re unable to pick everything up this weekend, we’d really appreciate some additional help.”

The beaches have been beset by large clumps of seaweed and twigs tangled with a variety of plastic trash and debris. Some medical waste including syringes has been found, and may be mixed in with the seaweed and debris, so DNREC is advising caution to anyone picking up trash.

“We don’t know exactly what might be inside these seaweed clumps, so we encourage using rakes, not bare or gloved hands, to break up the clumps and check for any potentially hazardous items. If a syringe or other item is found, volunteers should mark the spot and report findings so we can respond and pick up these items,” said Jamie Bethard of the DNREC Emergency Response Team.

Volunteers should be adults (18 and over) only. Volunteers should wear sturdy, closed shoes (no bare feet or flip-flops) and dress for the weather. DNREC will be providing gloves and trash bags, as well as on-site support. Volunteers who would like to work on separating trash from the seaweed are encouraged to bring rakes and tools. Volunteers also will be needed to pick up loose trash items.

Important Contact Information:

To report potentially hazardous items to DNREC’s 24-hour toll-free emergency response line, please call 1-800-662-8802.

For more information on cleanup efforts, or to report debris problems, please call Jack Hoban, DNREC Public Affairs, at 302-739-9278.

To volunteer or for specific beach information, please contact:
Broadkill Beach: Jim Bailey, 302-684-4013
Prime Hook Beach: John Robinson, 410-375-5253
Slaughter Beach: Bill McSpadden, 302-422-5588

Vol. 41, No. 366