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Coastal Cleanup Teams Are Recruiting Volunteers

By Carl Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: August 30, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Teams are recruiting members now for the 2008 Coastal Cleanup, according to Jennifer Seney, Pasco County's recycling coordinator.

Call her at 727-847-8041 for information about the Sept. 20 event.

In addition to county teams, other groups will pitch in for the cleanup. Make Mine BlueGreen Inc., a Holiday-based nonprofit group, is signing up volunteers to go out on a 65-foot boat to help clean up Anclote Key and nearby sandbars.

Call 727-967-4754 for information or go online to its http://makeminebluegreen.com> Web site.

Seney is hoping for a time when helping Mother Nature becomes second nature for residents. If that happens people will automatically clean up around their homes and neighborhoods the third Saturday of every September, she said.

"To me everyone should go out their front door and clean up their street," Seney said. "That's my vision."

Princess Stephan-Obriot, president of Make Mine BlueGreen, shares that vision. A brochure from the group points out that Americans consume nearly 1 million bottled waters or soft drinks every 5 minutes. The plastic containers for those beverages don't disintegrate, she noted.

So far 56 people have pledged to help Sept. 20 with Coastal Cleanup.

The event mobilizes volunteers here and in more than 100 countries in the program coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy.

Last year, 1,367 Pasco County volunteers picked up 14.8 tons of trash at 15 sites.

County teams this year will focus on the Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Gunn Highway, Anclote Key island preserve, Anclote Gulf Park fishing pier, Anclote River Park and Anclote Gulf Park, Signal Cove clubhouse, Anclote sand bar, Gulf Harbor channels, North Anclote island, Moon Lake Park, Banberry Road, Strauber Memorial Highway, Baillie's Bluff Road, Sea Pines neighborhood and canals, Hudson Beach, Signal Cove canals, all city of New Port Richey parks and other areas.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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