Annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 33rd Annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep

BEACH SWEEP/RIVER SWEEP is South Carolina's largest volunteer litter-cleanup event on the state's waterways. It's a tradition since 1988 and happens the 3rd Saturday in September when thousands of citizens volunteer to clear trash from our beaches, rivers, lakes, creeks, and wetlands.

Get Involved: Volunteers make BEACH SWEEP/RIVER SWEEP happen. Since 1988, more than 150,000 South Carolinians have volunteered to cleanup waterways across the state and they have removed over 1,200 tons of trash. There are two ways for volunteers to participate: either organize and lead a cleanup at a location you choose OR join a cleanup where additional helpers are being requested.

Why is picking up trash important? What's the big deal?

It doesn't matter what you call it, trash, litter, aquatic debris, or junk - it's dangerous to our safety, our wildlife, and our economy. Aquatic debris is a threat to our favorite recreational activities - like swimming, boating, and fishing. Wildlife are harmed each year because they mistake litter and plastic debris for food or become entangled in ropes and lines. The beauty of South Carolina is well known, our state thrives on the recreation and tourism industry - who would want to visit a trashy state?

Two important things happen when South Carolinians volunteer to pick up trash during BEACH SWEEP/RIVER SWEEP. Participants take action against pollution. They see first-hand the negative effects of trash on our waterways and recreation areas and they make a positive impact by removing the trash. Participants record the trash collected. By keeping track of the types and amounts of trash/litter we remove, we're able to better understand the sources of the trash. For example, information collected in 2004 told us that cigarettes, food wrappers, bottle caps, and lids made up nearly half of all the litter collected. This type of information helps organizations better target education programs and awareness campaigns to prevent litter from happening.

Anyone can participate, including businesses, civic clubs, individuals, families, school groups, recreation clubs, church groups, youth groups, etc. Volunteers select the beach, river, lake, creek, swamp, or marsh area they wish to clean.

Site Captains: Site Captains are the volunteers who organize and lead a local cleanup effort, large or small, as follows: • identify a trashed area, a location on or near a waterbody, where you'll conduct your cleanup • recruit volunteers, organize and conduct your cleanup • arrange for disposal of the trash you collect • report the results from your cleanup

Site Volunteers: Site Volunteers are those who come out to pickup trash at a registered cleanup site.

To sign up as a captain or to volunteer, visit www.sweep-scdnr.hub.arcgis.com.