NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

June 16, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 267

For more information, contact Capt. Aaron Hurd, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, 302-855-1901, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Volunteers Fill Large Dumpster
with Inland Bays Cleanup Trash

Volunteers at the Fifth Annual Cleanup of the Inland Bays on June 13 filled a large construction dumpster with trash ranging from plastic bags and shoes to old crab pots and cigarettes. Forty volunteers met at Massey’s Landing in Long Neck, including 20 community volunteers and 20 offenders from the Sussex Community Corrections Center performing community service work, and headed out on land and by boat to Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay.

The greatest numbers of items collected were food-related, including straws, beverage caps and lids, plates and plasticware, to go boxes and food wrappers, along with a total of 340 cans and glass and plastic bottles. Waterway-related items included 51 abandoned crab pots, 24 buoys or floats, fishing nets, bait containers, fishing line and ropes. Other items included 60 shotgun shells, seven tires, clothing, building materials, balloons and toys and 102 cigarettes, plus a lighter and tobacco packaging materials.

A number of local businesses donated money, food, and equipment including the dumpster, while some volunteers brought boats. 

“We had a very successful day, and we’d like to thank all the volunteers for their hard work as well our donors who helped make the event possible,” said Capt. Aaron Hurd of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement.