During last year’s International Coastal Cleanup, more than 486,000 volunteers worldwide joined forces to collect close to 8 million pounds of trash. Among the most common items were nearly 2 million cigarette butts, over 1.3 million beverage bottles, and more than 850,000 bottle caps. With 2024 on the horizon, Ocean Conservancy is gearing up for an even bigger wave of support.
This photo gallery chronicles a beach cleanup event organized by a group of individuals passionate about the health of coastal environments. A team effort, they worked to remove litter and protect Florida’s waterways from pollution.
Every 15.5 hours, Americans discard enough plastic to completely fill AT&T Stadium, the largest NFL venue and home of the Dallas Cowboys—and this mountain of waste keeps growing year after year. But the problem doesn’t stop there. The products we toss are only the tip of the iceberg; the processes behind them, like mining and manufacturing, generate even greater amounts of waste, much of it far more hazardous.Each year, about 45 billion aluminum beverage cans are recycled in the United States, thanks to a highly efficient circular system. Unlike many materials, used aluminum cans are often recycled directly into new ones—a process that can be repeated indefinitely. “This remarkable cycle keeps aluminum cans in use year after year,” says Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute.Mangrove ecosystems face significant threats from plastic pollution carried by rivers to the sea. Researchers estimate that 54% of mangrove habitats are located within 20 kilometers of rivers that release over a ton of plastic waste into the ocean each year. This problem is especially severe in Southeast Asia, where mangroves are particularly vulnerable to the steady flow of plastic debris.Over the past three decades, beach cleanups across the globe have uncovered over 20 million plastic bottle caps and lids. While the exact number of caps that make their way into our oceans or wash up on shores remains a mystery, one thing is clear: these hard plastic items are tough to break down and linger in the environment for a long time.Oceana’s latest poll reveals that an overwhelming 87% of Florida voters back policies at all levels—local, state, and national—aimed at cutting down on single-use plastics. Even more striking, 92% of registered voters in the state express concerns about the impact of single-use plastic products and plastic pollution, with 91% specifically worried about its harm to the environment.Plastic pollution has overtaken our oceans, with an alarming 88% of the sea’s surface now contaminated by plastic waste. Every year, between 8 to 14 million tonnes of plastic find their way into the ocean. Britain alone is responsible for an estimated 1.7 million tonnes annually, while the United States contributes a staggering 38 million tonnes each year.Every year, thousands of beach cleanups take place around the world, bringing communities together to tackle the growing issue of ocean pollution. Organizations like Ocean Conservancy lead the charge, with hundreds of thousands of volunteers joining their International Coastal Cleanup events. These efforts span across countless locations in multiple countries, showing the power of collective action to protect our shores and marine life.Plastic makes up 86% of the litter on Great Lakes beaches, breaking down into toxic microplastics that threaten drinking water for 40 million people. Most litter comes from single-use items, with the top offenders being tiny plastic fragments, cigarette butts, foam pieces, bottle caps, and food wrappers. Nearly 40% of it is “tiny trash,” less than 2.5 cm in size.The ocean’s top six pollutants include plastic, fertilizer runoff, nonpoint source pollution, light, noise, and industrial chemicals. Plastic leads the pack, with common debris like bags, bottles, food containers, cutlery, wrappers, synthetic rope, and fishing gear littering the seas.In 2024, the Coastal Cleanup drew over 2,300 volunteers from across the county, working together to collect nearly 3,100 pounds of trash and make a meaningful impact on their local environment.Over the past 35 years, global cleanup efforts have removed more than 344 million pounds of trash—enough plastic grocery bags to fill 1,190 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
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Benjamin Cure is a Cuban-American sportscaster currently serving as a broadcaster for ESPN+. In July 2020, the Miami native became the youngest Major League Soccer (MLS) reporter ever, as Digital Host for Inter Miami CF. In March 2022, Cure Founded his signature program, "The Benjamin Cure Show." Every Monday, Benjamin shares his takes on the biggest stories in sports.
Ivanna Hilewsky is a junior at Florida International University who is pursuing a degree in digital communications and media with a track in broadcasting. She is passionate about broadcast journalism, acting and learning more about the legal system.
Jason Harrow is a Senior at Florida International University who is majoring in Digital Journalism. Jason plans on using his voice to create insight and keep the public informed on what is taking place within their state.
