World Coastal Cleanup Day

On a beautiful Saturday, September 18, 2021, 29 volunteers from Friends of Georgica Pond, Surfrider Foundation, the East Hampton Library Young Adult Programs and the East Hampton Town Trustees worked together to remove debris from the beach at Georgica Pond.

Photo by Durell Godfrey.

Approximately 1,500 feet of pond shoreline was covered and in just 45 minutes a major haul of debris was collected. The debris which was mostly plastic consisted of 127 pounds of heavy marine debris and 49 pounds of common beach debris. Some of the debris was deposited by the ocean and some washed overland and through storm drains into the pond. Microplastics (broken down pieces from larger pieces of plastic) were by far the most common item collected.

Plastic bottle caps were a common item collected.
Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation board member Annie Hall helps East Hampton Town Trustees Tim Garneau and Bill Taylor weigh the haul.