by Alexis Forsyth
As an intern with Kiawah Conservancy, I have gotten the pleasure of participating in our monthly litter sweeps with the South Carolina Aquarium. From the proud faces of volunteers with their bags full of trash to reviewing the data and seeing just how much was found, the program has also been extremely rewarding for me and other volunteers. With local businesses, homeowners, and non-residents participating, everyone works together to keep the community beautiful!
Volunteers meet at Mingo Point bright and early on the third Saturday of every month for the sweep. A blue table with the South Carolina Aquarium’s logo boasts a collection of supplies and goodies such as stickers and coupons. Volunteers are split into groups, given their supplies, and sent to different areas to pick up litter. Once they have finished their routes, they return to deliver their findings and get a picture chronicling their hard work. Once all groups have returned, we review the data collection sheets provided to volunteers during the sweep. We then compile this in an online database with other data observations from people worldwide.
These observations allow the aquarium and us to see the most common types of litter in which locations. Based on this data, we can create solutions specifically targeted to fit that location’s needs. This can include increasing trash bins or petitioning local companies to decrease plastic consumption. These data observations can also encourage citizens to change some of their behaviors regarding plastic consumption and disposal.
These litter sweeps are part of a larger initiative to keep Kiawah Island and South Carolina beautiful. Each volunteer leaves with a sense of impact on the community. From our bobcats to our shorebirds to us, we all benefit from a clean environment.
To join our monthly litter sweep or other volunteering opportunities, visit https://conservancyoftheseaislands.org/volunteer/. Keep an eye out for our other events and opportunities as well. To see the South Carolina Aquarium’s other litter sweep times and locations, visit https://scaquarium.org/conservationevents/.