1,460 Pounds Of Trash Collected During World Ocean's Day Cleanup

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Dozens of residents combed the beaches and kayaked along shorelines picking up trash as part of the first Keep Pasco Beautiful World Oceans Day cleanup event June 8.

Volunteers donated their time at two Pasco County locations: Anclote Gulf Park in Holiday and Cypress Creek Preserve in Land O’ Lakes, removing everything from televisions and sofa cushions to car bumpers and tires.

“Trash along the roadways ends up in the stormwater system which ultimately leads to the Gulf,” said Keep Pasco Beautiful Coordinator Kristen King. “We live in an amazing place, and we all have to do our part to protect it.”

During the event, 59 volunteers logged 118 hours collecting 1,460 pounds of trash.

Pasco County has more than 20 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. In Central and East Pasco, there are also several watersheds that lead to Tampa Bay and various rivers.

The United Nations recognizes World Oceans Day each year to remind people of the importance of oceans, educate them on the impact of human actions on the ocean and develop a worldwide movement of citizens seeking to create a sustainable solution.

More than 70 percent of the planet is covered by oceans, which are home to the Earth's most biodiversity and produce at least 50 percent of the planet's oxygen.

“It’s estimated 80 percent of the trash in the ocean is from land,” said King. “One way you can help protect our ocean is to clean up trash before it reaches the waterways.”

In conjunction with World Oceans Day, Keep Pasco Beautiful also installed containers near popular fishing spots to collect used fishing line as part of the county's new Monofilament Education and Recovery Program.

Unlike braided fishing line, monofilament fishing line is made from a single fiber plastic and can endanger marine and bird life if not disposed of properly.

One young bald eagle learned this lesson the hard way after getting fishing line wrapped around its beak and a fishing hook lodged in its beak. The fishing line prevented the eagle from opening its beak and feeding.

The bird was rescued by the two children who brought the eagle to Pasco County Fire Rescue 21 in Hudson. Firefighters called the nonprofit Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife in Odessa to assist in removing the fishing line and hook. The eagle was then taken to Busch Gardens for treatment and rehabilitation.

See related story: Kids Help Save Bald Eagle Injured By Fishing Hook

Keep Pasco Beautiful, along with Pasco County Public Works, Solid Waste, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources and Covanta Pasco, organized the event.

The World Oceans Day cleanup followed a successful 2021 Great American Cleanup for Keep Pasco Beautiful March 3.

On that day, 659 volunteers collected 36,920 pounds of trash along 37 roads, parks and waterways in the county including Anclote Gulf Park in Holiday, Dade City, Port Richey, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel and Hudson.

“Between the rainy weather and the ongoing pandemic, we weren’t sure how many volunteers would show up this year,” said King. “Once again, they came out in full support, proving what a tremendous impact concerned community members can have when given the opportunity.”

Keep Pasco Beautiful also participates in the annual International Coastal Cleanup held the third Saturday in September.

The purpose is to help clean up and track the more than eight million metric tons of plastic trash that ends up in the oceans every year.

Since 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup has collected more than 334 million pounds of trash with the help of more than 16 million volunteers.

Last year, the Pasco coastal cleanup was hosted by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc., with participation by members of the Rotary District 6950 Foundation and the West Pasco Sunset, Trinity and Dade City Sunrise Rotary clubs.

An estimated 922 volunteers spent 3,248 hours picking up 19.52 tons of trash at 36 locations throughout Pasco County.

This year's International Coastal Cleanup presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc. will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18. Cleanups typically take place from 8 a.m. to noon.

Through sponsorships, volunteers are supplied with trash bags, gloves, T-shirts and trash pickers. Surfing's Evolution and Preservation Foundation also provided funds for reusable buckets.

Those interested in participating in this year's International Coastal Cleanup can find more information at Keep Pasco Beautiful.