Dr. Goodman leading the charge

H-SC students representing Circle K International

On Sunday October 30,         11 volunteers including Drs. Rachel Goodman and Mike Wolyniak and H-SC students conducted a waterway cleanup as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. This event involves people from over 75 countries removing millions of pounds of trash from beaches and waterways, and is headed locally by Clean Virginia Waterways.

In two hours, the crew picked up over 100 pounds of litter, including plastic bags, food wrappers, and fishing lines which are dangerous for animals that can be entangled and choked by them.

Over 200 cigarette butts were collected. Most people don’t realize that these are plastic, NOT biodegradable, and toxic hazards to wildlife for years or decades after disposal (click here for more info). So remember to always mind your butts and tell your friends and family to safely dispose of them in proper receptacles!

Ryan Davis picking litter out of the brush

Students from BIOL 108 Environmental Biology proudly display a retrieved tire