Page 16 - Stuart Exposure - December '22

Page 16, Stuart Exposure

coMMuNity happeNiNgs

Keep Martin Beautiful
Volunteers Remove More

Than 40,000 Pieces Of Litter

And Marine Debris As Part Of
International Coastal Cleanup

Keep Martin Beautiful’s International Coastal Cleanup
inspired more than 1,000 Martin County residents to take
action to help improve the quality of our beaches and
waterways. Volunteers from a cross section of the community
joined forces on a rainy Saturday morning on Sept. 17 and
removed more than 40,000 pieces of litter and marine debris These volunteers from the Roberts family prove that even
from local rivers, beaches, parks and waterways throughout The LaBar Family participates in the International Coastal the tiniest of hands can make a difference in our community
Martin County. Cleanup efforts at Stuart Beach. beach cleanup efforts.
“Thanks to the data collection app our volunteers have been
using over the past few years, we are able to gather meaningful More than 8,500 cigarette butts were found strewn about Associates, Inc.; Florida Inland Navigational District; The
data each year about what our volunteers are picking up,” said Martin County’s beaches and parks, representing about 21 Firefly Group; Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa; Jenkins
Craig Ahal, Keep Martin Beautiful president. “As always, the percent of all the trash collected by item. A typical cigarette Landscape; Live with Grace; Martin County Board of
biggest litter culprit is cigarette butts.” butt can take up to 10 years to decompose. Other large County Commissioners; The MilCor Group; the Pulte Group;
contributors to litter and marine debris in Martin County Rocky’s Ace Hardware Stuart; Sailfish Point; Shearwater
included nearly 2,500 plastic bottle caps, more than 500 Marine; Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club; Surfing Evolution &
plastic bottles, and nearly 700 plastic bags. Preservation Foundation; Three Lakes; Trash Free Seas; van
This year, the most unusual items found included fake Vonno Consulting; VidaCann; and 4ocean.
plants, a mascara tube, clothing, and an umbrella. About Keep Martin Beautiful
“Some of our volunteer groups have been participating Keep Martin Beautiful (KMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
in our annual Coastal Cleanup for more than a decade,” said community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate
Tiffany Kincaid, executive director of Keep Martin Beautiful. of Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is to preserve and
“The troop leaders, school groups and families that take enhance the quality of life in Martin County through litter
younger kids out to be part of the cleanup are such a critical prevention, the promotion of recycling, improvement of
part of instilling environmental stewardship values on the solid waste management practices, and beautification and
next generation.” community revitalization activities. KMB signature events
Keep Martin Beautiful has been the local coordinator for and programs include the Environmental Stewardship
International Coastal Cleanup for 27 years. It’s part of a global Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great
initiative coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy involving 17 American Cleanup, the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street
million people in over 100 nations around the world. programs, and other educational and outreach activities.
From left: Marilyn Gavitt, Mark Gavitt, Farah Daye, Kathy Keep Martin Beautiful appreciates the many sponsors Find KMB on Facebook at facebook.com/
Kernan, Kris Kerr and Jack Daye (kneeling) take to the who supported the 2022 International Coastal Cleanup, KeepMartinBeautiful, follow KMB on Instagram at instagram.
spoil islands as part of the International Coastal Cleanup including: Ashley Capital; the City of Stuart; Coastal Waste com/keepmartinbeautiful, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or
in Martin County. & Recycling; ColorLength; Cook Electric, Inc.; Ecological call (772) 781-1222.

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